Complete Stats Comparison of Karl Malone and Yao Ming

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Karl Malone and Yao Ming during their NBA careers. First we show you a summary of who had better numbers on each statistical category and then we compare in detail the performance of each of these stars in the regular season and the Playoffs, both in total stats and averages per game.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Stats / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

This in-depth comparison includes all the numbers, if you prefer a simplified version of this analysis with only the basic statistics, you will find it at the career comparison of these two NBA stars.

On this page we compare:

Who has better stats? Main stats / All stats
Regular Season: Averages / Totals / Pecentages
Playoffs: Averages / Totals / Pecentages

Main Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Karl Malone4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		19
seasons
Yao Ming1
(blocks)		0
8
seasons
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Karl Malone4
(points, rebounds, assists, steals)		5
(points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks)		19
Playoffs
Yao Ming1
(blocks)		0
4
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Karl Malone9
stats		12
stats		1
stat
Yao Ming3
stats		2
stats		2
stats
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Karl Malone9
stats		12
stats		1
stat
Yao Ming2
stats		2
stats		2
stats
they are tied1
stat

- "Better Career Total" includes games and years played as stats.

- For turnovers and personal fouls, lower numbers are better.

- Field goal, free-throw and three-point attempts are not included on these tables since it can't be said that higher is better.

Now, lets compare all their stats in detail, one by one...

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Karl Malone had better averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals while Yao Ming had better average in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Karl Malone had better averages in points (+6.0), field goals made (+2.2), 3-pointers made (+0.1), free throws made (+1.5), defensive rebounds (+1.0), total rebounds (+0.9), assists (+2.0) and steals (+1.0)
- Yao Ming had better averages in offensive rebounds (+0.1) and blocks (+1.1)
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.4)
- Yao Ming had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.2)
- Karl Malone had higher averages in field goals attempted (+4.5), 3-pointers attempted (+0.2) and free throws attempted (+2.8)
-

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Karl Malone 25.0
+6.0
Yao Ming 19.0
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 9.2
+2.2
Yao Ming 7.0
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 17.8
+4.5
Yao Ming 13.3
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 0.1
+0.1
Yao Ming 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 0.2
+0.2
Yao Ming 0.0
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 6.6
+1.5
Yao Ming 5.1
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 8.9
+2.8
Yao Ming 6.1
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 2.4
Yao Ming 2.5
+0.1
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 7.7
+1.0
Yao Ming 6.7
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 10.1
+0.9
Yao Ming 9.2
Assists
Karl Malone 3.6
+2.0
Yao Ming 1.6
Steals
Karl Malone 1.4
+1.0
Yao Ming 0.4
Blocks
Karl Malone 0.8
Yao Ming 1.9
+1.1
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.4
Yao Ming 2.7
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.1
Yao Ming 3.3
+0.2

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Karl Malone had more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Yao Ming.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Karl Malone played more years (+11) and games (+990), and had more points (+27,681), field goals made (+10,148), 3-pointers made (+83), free throws made (+7,302), offensive rebounds (+2,329), defensive rebounds (+8,145), total rebounds (+10,474), assists (+4,479), steals (+1,896) and blocks (+225)
-
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+3,213) and personal fouls (+2,982)
-
- Karl Malone had more field goals attempted (+19,765), 3-pointers attempted (+300) and free throws attempted (+10,204)
-

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Karl Malone 19
+11
Yao Ming 8
Games
Karl Malone 1,476
+990
Yao Ming 486
Points
Karl Malone 36,928
+27,681
Yao Ming 9,247
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 13,528
+10,148
Yao Ming 3,380
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 26,210
+19,765
Yao Ming 6,445
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 85
+83
Yao Ming 2
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 310
+300
Yao Ming 10
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 9,787
+7,302
Yao Ming 2,485
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 13,188
+10,204
Yao Ming 2,984
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 3,562
+2,329
Yao Ming 1,233
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 11,406
+8,145
Yao Ming 3,261
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 14,968
+10,474
Yao Ming 4,494
Assists
Karl Malone 5,248
+4,479
Yao Ming 769
Steals
Karl Malone 2,085
+1,896
Yao Ming 189
Blocks
Karl Malone 1,145
+225
Yao Ming 920
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 4,524
+3,213
Yao Ming 1,311
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 4,578
+2,982
Yao Ming 1,596

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, Yao Ming had better field goal percentage and free throw percentage while Karl Malone had better 3-point percentage.

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone 51.6%
Yao Ming 52.4%
+0.8
3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone 27.4%
+7.4
Yao Ming 20.0%
Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone 74.2%
Yao Ming 83.3%
+9.1

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Karl Malone had better averages in points, rebounds, assists and steals while Yao Ming had better average in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Karl Malone had better averages in points (+4.9), field goals made (+2.0), free throws made (+0.7), defensive rebounds (+1.5), total rebounds (+1.4), assists (+2.2) and steals (+1.0)
- Yao Ming had better averages in offensive rebounds (+0.1) and blocks (+0.8)
-
- Yao Ming had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.1) and personal fouls (+0.4)
- Karl Malone had higher averages in field goals attempted (+6.1), 3-pointers attempted (+0.2) and free throws attempted (+1.8)
-

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Karl Malone 24.7
+4.9
Yao Ming 19.8
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 9.0
+2.0
Yao Ming 7.0
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 19.5
+6.1
Yao Ming 13.4
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 0.0
Yao Ming 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 0.2
+0.2
Yao Ming 0.0
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 6.6
+0.7
Yao Ming 5.9
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 8.9
+1.8
Yao Ming 7.1
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 2.6
Yao Ming 2.7
+0.1
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 8.1
+1.5
Yao Ming 6.6
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 10.7
+1.4
Yao Ming 9.3
Assists
Karl Malone 3.2
+2.2
Yao Ming 1.0
Steals
Karl Malone 1.3
+1.0
Yao Ming 0.3
Blocks
Karl Malone 0.7
Yao Ming 1.5
+0.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 2.8
Yao Ming 2.9
+0.1
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 3.4
Yao Ming 3.8
+0.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Karl Malone had more total points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks than Yao Ming.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Karl Malone played more years (+15) and games (+165), and had more points (+4,206), field goals made (+1,548), 3-pointers made (+6), free throws made (+1,104), offensive rebounds (+426), defensive rebounds (+1,375), total rebounds (+1,801), assists (+581), steals (+249) and blocks (+93)
-
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+468) and personal fouls (+557)
-
- Karl Malone had more field goals attempted (+3,392), 3-pointers attempted (+37) and free throws attempted (+1,527)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Karl Malone 19
+15
Yao Ming 4
Games
Karl Malone 193
+165
Yao Ming 28
Points
Karl Malone 4,761
+4,206
Yao Ming 555
Field Goals Made
Karl Malone 1,743
+1,548
Yao Ming 195
Field Goals Attempted
Karl Malone 3,768
+3,392
Yao Ming 376
3-Pointers Made
Karl Malone 6
+6
Yao Ming 0
3-Pointers Attempted
Karl Malone 37
+37
Yao Ming 0
Free Throws Made
Karl Malone 1,269
+1,104
Yao Ming 165
Free Throws Attempted
Karl Malone 1,725
+1,527
Yao Ming 198
Offensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 502
+426
Yao Ming 76
Defensive Rebounds
Karl Malone 1,560
+1,375
Yao Ming 185
Total Rebounds
Karl Malone 2,062
+1,801
Yao Ming 261
Assists
Karl Malone 610
+581
Yao Ming 29
Steals
Karl Malone 258
+249
Yao Ming 9
Blocks
Karl Malone 135
+93
Yao Ming 42
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 550
+468
Yao Ming 82
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Karl Malone 662
+557
Yao Ming 105

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Yao Ming had better field goal percentage and free throw percentage while Karl Malone had better 3-point percentage.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Karl Malone 46.3%
Yao Ming 51.9%
+5.6
3-Point Percentage
Karl Malone 16.2%
+16.2
Yao Ming 0%
Free Throw Percentage
Karl Malone 73.6%
Yao Ming 83.3%
+9.7
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