James Harden vs. Karl Malone Comparison

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

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

James Harden

vs.

Karl Malone

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
James Harden: 2009-10 to 2023-24
Karl Malone: 1985-86 to 2003-04

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships James Harden 0 Karl Malone 0

NBA Seasons James Harden 15 Karl Malone 19

Playoffs Played James Harden 14 Karl Malone 19

All-Star Games James Harden 10 Karl Malone 14

Honors and Awards

Season MVP James Harden 1 Karl Malone 2

All-NBA First Team James Harden 6 Karl Malone 11

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) James Harden 7 Karl Malone 14

All-Defensive 1st Team James Harden 0 Karl Malone 3

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) James Harden 0 Karl Malone 4

Scoring Leader James Harden 3 Karl Malone 0

Assists Leader James Harden 2 Karl Malone 0

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game James Harden 24.1 Karl Malone 25.0

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 5.6 Karl Malone 10.1

Assists Per Game James Harden 7.1 Karl Malone 3.6

Steals Per Game James Harden 1.5 Karl Malone 1.4

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.6 Karl Malone 0.8

Totals Stats

Total Points James Harden 25,885 Karl Malone 36,928

Total Rebounds James Harden 6,017 Karl Malone 14,968

Total Assists James Harden 7,629 Karl Malone 5,248

Total Steals James Harden 1,597 Karl Malone 2,085

Total Blocks James Harden 600 Karl Malone 1,145

Total Games James Harden 1,072 Karl Malone 1,476

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage James Harden .441 Karl Malone .516

3-Point Percentage James Harden .364 Karl Malone .274

Free Throw Percentage James Harden .861 Karl Malone .742

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game James Harden 36.1 (2019) Karl Malone 31.0 (1990)

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 8.1 (2017) Karl Malone 12.0 (1988)

Assists Per Game James Harden 11.2 (2017) Karl Malone 4.7 (2003)

Steals Per Game James Harden 2.0 (2019) Karl Malone 1.9 (2002)

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.9 (2020) Karl Malone 1.5 (1994)

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game James Harden 22.7 Karl Malone 24.7

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 5.5 Karl Malone 10.7

Assists Per Game James Harden 6.3 Karl Malone 3.2

Steals Per Game James Harden 1.7 Karl Malone 1.3

Blocks Per Game James Harden 0.5 Karl Malone 0.7

Totals Stats

Total Points James Harden 3,637 Karl Malone 4,761

Total Rebounds James Harden 883 Karl Malone 2,062

Total Assists James Harden 1,013 Karl Malone 610

Total Steals James Harden 267 Karl Malone 258

Total Blocks James Harden 85 Karl Malone 135

Total Games James Harden 160 Karl Malone 193

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage James Harden .424 Karl Malone .463

3-Point Percentage James Harden .338 Karl Malone .162

Free Throw Percentage James Harden .869 Karl Malone .736

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game James Harden 31.6 (2019) Karl Malone 30.7 (1989)

Rebounds Per Game James Harden 6.8 (2019) Karl Malone 16.3 (1989)

Assists Per Game James Harden 8.6 (2022) Karl Malone 4.7 (1999)

Steals Per Game James Harden 2.4 (2016) Karl Malone 2.2 (1990)

Blocks Per Game James Harden 1.0 (2013) Karl Malone 1.2 (1991)