Complete Stats Comparison of Michael Jordan and Karl Malone

Here you have a complete side-by-side comparison of all the stats recorded by Michael Jordan and Karl Malone 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
Michael Jordan3
(points, assists, steals)		2
(assists, steals)		15
seasons
Karl Malone1
(rebounds)		3
(points, rebounds, blocks)		19
seasons
they are tied1
(blocks)
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
Points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalYears
Michael Jordan4
(points, assists, steals, blocks)		4
(points, assists, steals, blocks)		13
Playoffs
Karl Malone1
(rebounds)		1
(rebounds)		19
Playoffs

All Stats Summary:

Who has better stats in the Regular Season?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Michael Jordan8
stats		5
stats		2
stats
Karl Malone3
stats		9
stats		1
stat
they are tied1
stat
Who has better stats in the Playoffs?
All the stats
Player Better Career Average Better Career TotalBetter Percentage
Michael Jordan8
stats		9
stats		3
stats
Karl Malone4
stats		5
stats		0
stats

- "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, Michael Jordan had better averages in points, assists and steals while Karl Malone had better average in rebounds. They are tied in blocks.

Who had higher averages in the Regular Season?

- Michael Jordan had better averages in points (+5.1), field goals made (+2.2), 3-pointers made (+0.4), free throws made (+0.2), assists (+1.7) and steals (+0.9)
- Karl Malone had better averages in offensive rebounds (+0.8), defensive rebounds (+3.0) and total rebounds (+3.9)
-
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) averages in turnovers (+0.4) and personal fouls (+0.5)
- Michael Jordan had higher averages in field goals attempted (+5.1) and 3-pointers attempted (+1.5)
- Karl Malone had higher average in free throws attempted (+0.7)

NBA Regular Season, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Michael Jordan 30.1
+5.1
Karl Malone 25.0
Field Goals Made
Michael Jordan 11.4
+2.2
Karl Malone 9.2
Field Goals Attempted
Michael Jordan 22.9
+5.1
Karl Malone 17.8
3-Pointers Made
Michael Jordan 0.5
+0.4
Karl Malone 0.1
3-Pointers Attempted
Michael Jordan 1.7
+1.5
Karl Malone 0.2
Free Throws Made
Michael Jordan 6.8
+0.2
Karl Malone 6.6
Free Throws Attempted
Michael Jordan 8.2
Karl Malone 8.9
+0.7
Offensive Rebounds
Michael Jordan 1.6
Karl Malone 2.4
+0.8
Defensive Rebounds
Michael Jordan 4.7
Karl Malone 7.7
+3.0
Total Rebounds
Michael Jordan 6.2
Karl Malone 10.1
+3.9
Assists
Michael Jordan 5.3
+1.7
Karl Malone 3.6
Steals
Michael Jordan 2.3
+0.9
Karl Malone 1.4
Blocks
Michael Jordan 0.8
Karl Malone 0.8
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Michael Jordan 2.7
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.4
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Michael Jordan 2.6
Karl Malone 3.1
+0.5

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Regular Season, out of the five main statistical categories, Karl Malone had more total points, rebounds and blocks while Michael Jordan had more total assists and steals.

Who had more total stats in the Regular Season?

- Michael Jordan had more 3-pointers made (+496), assists (+385) and steals (+429)
- Karl Malone played more years (+4) and games (+404), and had more points (+4,636), field goals made (+1,336), free throws made (+2,460), offensive rebounds (+1,894), defensive rebounds (+6,402), total rebounds (+8,296) and blocks (+252)
-
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+1,600) and personal fouls (+1,795)
- Michael Jordan had more 3-pointers attempted (+1,468)
- Karl Malone had more field goals attempted (+1,673) and free throws attempted (+4,416)

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Totals

Years
Michael Jordan 15
Karl Malone 19
+4
Games
Michael Jordan 1,072
Karl Malone 1,476
+404
Points
Michael Jordan 32,292
Karl Malone 36,928
+4,636
Field Goals Made
Michael Jordan 12,192
Karl Malone 13,528
+1,336
Field Goals Attempted
Michael Jordan 24,537
Karl Malone 26,210
+1,673
3-Pointers Made
Michael Jordan 581
+496
Karl Malone 85
3-Pointers Attempted
Michael Jordan 1,778
+1,468
Karl Malone 310
Free Throws Made
Michael Jordan 7,327
Karl Malone 9,787
+2,460
Free Throws Attempted
Michael Jordan 8,772
Karl Malone 13,188
+4,416
Offensive Rebounds
Michael Jordan 1,668
Karl Malone 3,562
+1,894
Defensive Rebounds
Michael Jordan 5,004
Karl Malone 11,406
+6,402
Total Rebounds
Michael Jordan 6,672
Karl Malone 14,968
+8,296
Assists
Michael Jordan 5,633
+385
Karl Malone 5,248
Steals
Michael Jordan 2,514
+429
Karl Malone 2,085
Blocks
Michael Jordan 893
Karl Malone 1,145
+252
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Michael Jordan 2,924
Karl Malone 4,524
+1,600
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Michael Jordan 2,783
Karl Malone 4,578
+1,795

Comparison of Percentages in the Regular Season

Comparison highlight:

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

NBA Regular Season Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Michael Jordan 49.7%
Karl Malone 51.6%
+1.9
3-Point Percentage
Michael Jordan 32.7%
+5.3
Karl Malone 27.4%
Free Throw Percentage
Michael Jordan 83.5%
+9.3
Karl Malone 74.2%

Comparison of Stats Per Game in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

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

Who had higher averages in the Playoffs?

- Michael Jordan had better averages in points (+8.7), field goals made (+3.2), 3-pointers made (+0.8), free throws made (+1.6), assists (+2.5), steals (+0.8) and blocks (+0.2)
- Karl Malone had better averages in offensive rebounds (+0.9), defensive rebounds (+3.4) and total rebounds (+4.3)
- Michael Jordan had higher (worst) average in turnovers (+0.3)
- Karl Malone had higher (worst) average in personal fouls (+0.4)
- Michael Jordan had higher averages in field goals attempted (+5.6), 3-pointers attempted (+2.3) and free throws attempted (+1.0)
-

NBA Playoffs, Career Stats Per Game

Points
Michael Jordan 33.4
+8.7
Karl Malone 24.7
Field Goals Made
Michael Jordan 12.2
+3.2
Karl Malone 9.0
Field Goals Attempted
Michael Jordan 25.1
+5.6
Karl Malone 19.5
3-Pointers Made
Michael Jordan 0.8
+0.8
Karl Malone 0.0
3-Pointers Attempted
Michael Jordan 2.5
+2.3
Karl Malone 0.2
Free Throws Made
Michael Jordan 8.2
+1.6
Karl Malone 6.6
Free Throws Attempted
Michael Jordan 9.9
+1.0
Karl Malone 8.9
Offensive Rebounds
Michael Jordan 1.7
Karl Malone 2.6
+0.9
Defensive Rebounds
Michael Jordan 4.7
Karl Malone 8.1
+3.4
Total Rebounds
Michael Jordan 6.4
Karl Malone 10.7
+4.3
Assists
Michael Jordan 5.7
+2.5
Karl Malone 3.2
Steals
Michael Jordan 2.1
+0.8
Karl Malone 1.3
Blocks
Michael Jordan 0.9
+0.2
Karl Malone 0.7
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Michael Jordan 3.1
+0.3
Karl Malone 2.8
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Michael Jordan 3.0
Karl Malone 3.4
+0.4

Comparison of Totals Stats in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, out of the five main statistical categories, Michael Jordan had more total points, assists, steals and blocks while Karl Malone had more total rebounds.

Who had more total stats in the Playoffs?

- Michael Jordan had more points (+1,226), field goals made (+445), 3-pointers made (+142), free throws made (+194), assists (+412), steals (+118) and blocks (+23)
- Karl Malone played more years (+6) and games (+14), and had more offensive rebounds (+197), defensive rebounds (+713) and total rebounds (+910)
-
- Karl Malone had more turnovers (+4) and personal fouls (+121)
- Michael Jordan had more field goals attempted (+729), 3-pointers attempted (+409) and free throws attempted (+41)
-

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Totals

Years
Michael Jordan 13
Karl Malone 19
+6
Games
Michael Jordan 179
Karl Malone 193
+14
Points
Michael Jordan 5,987
+1,226
Karl Malone 4,761
Field Goals Made
Michael Jordan 2,188
+445
Karl Malone 1,743
Field Goals Attempted
Michael Jordan 4,497
+729
Karl Malone 3,768
3-Pointers Made
Michael Jordan 148
+142
Karl Malone 6
3-Pointers Attempted
Michael Jordan 446
+409
Karl Malone 37
Free Throws Made
Michael Jordan 1,463
+194
Karl Malone 1,269
Free Throws Attempted
Michael Jordan 1,766
+41
Karl Malone 1,725
Offensive Rebounds
Michael Jordan 305
Karl Malone 502
+197
Defensive Rebounds
Michael Jordan 847
Karl Malone 1,560
+713
Total Rebounds
Michael Jordan 1,152
Karl Malone 2,062
+910
Assists
Michael Jordan 1,022
+412
Karl Malone 610
Steals
Michael Jordan 376
+118
Karl Malone 258
Blocks
Michael Jordan 158
+23
Karl Malone 135
Turnovers
(lower is better)
Michael Jordan 546
Karl Malone 550
+4
Personal Fouls
(lower is better)
Michael Jordan 541
Karl Malone 662
+121

Comparison of Percentages in the Playoffs

Comparison highlight:

Comparison highlight In the Playoffs, Michael Jordan had better field goal percentage, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage than Karl Malone.

NBA Playoffs Stats, Career Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Michael Jordan 48.7%
+2.4
Karl Malone 46.3%
3-Point Percentage
Michael Jordan 33.2%
+17.0
Karl Malone 16.2%
Free Throw Percentage
Michael Jordan 82.8%
+9.2
Karl Malone 73.6%
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