Dave Cowens vs. Karl Malone Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Karl Malone and Dave Cowens that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Player comparisons: / /

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

NBA Timeline:
1946-47
2023-24
Dave Cowens:
1970-71 to 1982-83
Karl Malone:
1985-86 to 2003-04

NBA Championships and Seasons

Dave Cowens2
Karl Malone0
Dave Cowens11
Karl Malone19
Dave Cowens7
Karl Malone19
Dave Cowens8
Karl Malone14

Honors and Awards

Dave Cowens1
Karl Malone2
Dave Cowens0
Karl Malone11
All-NBA Teams
(Total Selections)
Dave Cowens3
Karl Malone14
Dave Cowens1
Karl Malone3
All-Defensive Teams
(Total Selections)
Dave Cowens3
Karl Malone4
Dave Cowens1
Karl Malone0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Dave Cowens 17.6
Karl Malone 25.0

Dave Cowens 13.6
Karl Malone 10.1

Dave Cowens 3.8
Karl Malone 3.6

Dave Cowens 1.1
*
Karl Malone 1.4

Dave Cowens 0.9
*
Karl Malone 0.8

Totals Stats

Dave Cowens 13,516
Karl Malone 36,928

Dave Cowens 10,444
Karl Malone 14,968

Dave Cowens 2,910
Karl Malone 5,248

Dave Cowens 599
*
Karl Malone 2,085

Dave Cowens 488
*
Karl Malone 1,145

Dave Cowens 766
Karl Malone 1,476

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Dave Cowens .460
Karl Malone .516

3-Point Percentage
Dave Cowens .071
*
Karl Malone .274

Free Throw Percentage
Dave Cowens .783
Karl Malone .742

Best Season (no game minimum)

Dave Cowens 20.5
(1973)
Karl Malone 31.0
(1990)

Dave Cowens 16.2
(1973)
Karl Malone 12.0
(1988)

Dave Cowens 5.0
(1977)
Karl Malone 4.7
(2003)

Dave Cowens 1.3
(1975)
*
Karl Malone 1.9
(2002)

Dave Cowens 1.3
(1974)
*
Karl Malone 1.5
(1994)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Dave Cowens 18.9
Karl Malone 24.7

Dave Cowens 14.4
Karl Malone 10.7

Dave Cowens 3.7
Karl Malone 3.2

Dave Cowens 1.2
*
Karl Malone 1.3

Dave Cowens 0.9
*
Karl Malone 0.7

Totals Stats

Dave Cowens 1,684
Karl Malone 4,761

Dave Cowens 1,285
Karl Malone 2,062

Dave Cowens 333
Karl Malone 610

Dave Cowens 78
*
Karl Malone 258

Dave Cowens 56
*
Karl Malone 135

Dave Cowens 89
Karl Malone 193

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage
Dave Cowens .451
Karl Malone .463

3-Point Percentage
Dave Cowens .000
*
Karl Malone .162

Free Throw Percentage
Dave Cowens .744
Karl Malone .736

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Dave Cowens 21.9
(1973)
Karl Malone 30.7
(1989)

Dave Cowens 16.6
(1973)
Karl Malone 16.3
(1989)

Dave Cowens 4.6
(1976)
Karl Malone 4.7
(1999)

Dave Cowens 1.6
(1975)
*
Karl Malone 2.2
(1990)

Dave Cowens 1.4
(1977)
*
Karl Malone 1.2
(1991)

Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.
Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.