Calvin Murphy vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns and Calvin Murphy, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Calvin Murphy played 13 years in the NBA, 4 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 9. Calvin Murphy had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Karl-Anthony Towns had his rookie season in 2015-16. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player		 Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Calvin Murphy 13 6 1970-71 to 1982-83
Karl-Anthony Towns 9 4 2015-16 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1970-712015-16
Team San Diego RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 82 24.6 15.8 - - 3.0 4.0 - - - 3.2 5.7 12.5 .458 - - - 4.3 5.3 .820
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 32.0 18.3 2.8 7.7 10.5 2.0 0.7 1.7 2.2 3.0 7.6 14.1 .542 0.4 1.1 .341 2.7 3.4 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1971-722016-17
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 82 31.0 18.2 - - 3.1 4.8 - - - 3.6 7.0 15.3 .455 - - - 4.3 4.8 .890
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 37.0 25.1 3.6 8.7 12.3 2.7 0.7 1.3 2.6 2.9 9.8 18.0 .542 1.2 3.4 .367 4.3 5.2 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 3
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1972-732017-18
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 77 22.0 13.0 - - 1.9 3.4 - - - 2.7 4.9 10.6 .465 - - - 3.1 3.5 .888
Karl-Anthony Towns 82 35.6 21.3 2.9 9.4 12.3 2.4 0.8 1.4 1.9 3.5 7.8 14.3 .545 1.5 3.5 .421 4.2 4.9 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 34.0 15.2 3.0 10.4 13.4 2.2 0.4 1.0 2.4 2.8 5.6 12.0 .467 0.6 2.2 .273 3.4 4.6 .739

Season 4
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1973-742018-19
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 81 36.1 20.4 0.6 1.7 2.3 7.4 1.9 0.0 - 3.8 8.3 15.9 .522 - - - 3.8 4.4 .868
Karl-Anthony Towns 77 33.1 24.4 3.4 9.0 12.4 3.4 0.9 1.6 3.1 3.8 8.8 17.1 .518 1.8 4.6 .400 4.9 5.8 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1974-752019-20
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 78 32.2 18.7 0.7 1.6 2.2 4.9 1.6 0.1 - 3.6 7.1 14.8 .484 - - - 4.4 4.9 .883
Karl-Anthony Towns 35 33.9 26.5 2.7 8.1 10.8 4.4 0.9 1.2 3.1 3.3 9.0 17.8 .508 3.3 7.9 .412 5.1 6.5 .796
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 8 38.1 24.4 1.1 1.3 2.4 5.6 1.8 0.1 - 4.5 9.0 19.5 .462 - - - 6.4 7.1 .895
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1975-762020-21
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 82 36.5 21.0 0.6 1.9 2.5 7.3 1.8 0.1 - 3.6 8.2 16.7 .493 - - - 4.5 5.0 .907
Karl-Anthony Towns 50 33.8 24.8 2.7 7.9 10.6 4.5 0.8 1.1 3.2 3.7 8.5 17.5 .486 2.4 6.3 .387 5.3 6.2 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1976-772021-22
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf FinalsTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 82 33.7 17.9 0.7 1.4 2.1 4.7 1.8 0.1 - 3.4 7.3 14.8 .490 - - - 3.3 3.7 .886
Karl-Anthony Towns 74 33.5 24.6 2.6 7.2 9.8 3.6 1.0 1.1 3.1 3.6 8.7 16.4 .529 2.0 4.9 .410 5.2 6.3 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 12 35.0 19.3 0.6 1.0 1.6 6.3 1.6 0.2 - 3.9 8.5 17.8 .479 - - - 2.3 2.5 .933
Karl-Anthony Towns 6 37.0 21.8 1.8 9.0 10.8 2.2 0.7 2.0 4.5 4.2 6.5 13.3 .488 1.7 3.7 .455 7.2 8.3 .860

Season 8
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1977-782022-23
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTimberwolves Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 76 38.2 25.6 0.8 1.4 2.2 3.4 1.5 0.0 2.3 3.2 11.2 22.9 .491 - - - 3.2 3.5 .918
Karl-Anthony Towns 29 33.0 20.8 1.7 6.5 8.1 4.8 0.7 0.6 3.0 3.8 7.3 14.8 .495 2.1 5.7 .366 4.1 4.7 .874
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns 5 36.0 18.2 1.2 9.0 10.2 2.0 0.6 0.8 3.6 4.2 6.4 14.0 .457 1.2 4.8 .250 4.2 5.6 .750

Season 9
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1978-792023-24
Team Houston RocketsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf 1st RdTimberwolves TBD
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 82 35.9 20.2 1.0 1.2 2.1 4.3 1.4 0.1 2.3 3.5 8.6 17.4 .496 - - - 3.0 3.2 .928
Karl-Anthony Towns 62 32.7 21.8 1.5 6.8 8.3 3.0 0.7 0.7 2.9 3.3 7.7 15.3 .504 2.2 5.3 .416 4.1 4.7 .873
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 2 36.5 13.0 1.0 0.5 1.5 3.0 4.0 0.5 1.0 4.5 4.5 15.5 .290 - - - 4.0 4.5 .889
Karl-Anthony Towns 8 31.3 18.9 1.9 7.0 8.9 2.5 0.5 0.3 1.8 3.9 6.6 12.8 .520 2.4 4.4 .543 3.3 4.0 .813

Season 10
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1979-80-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 76 35.2 20.0 0.9 1.1 2.0 3.9 1.9 0.1 2.1 3.5 8.2 16.7 .493 0.0 0.3 .040 3.6 4.0 .897
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 7 37.9 18.7 0.6 0.9 1.4 3.7 1.6 0.0 2.3 4.1 8.3 15.4 .537 0.3 0.6 .500 1.9 1.9 1.000
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1980-81-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 76 26.5 16.7 0.4 0.7 1.1 2.9 1.5 0.1 1.7 2.8 6.9 14.1 .492 0.1 0.2 .235 2.7 2.8 .958
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 19 28.4 18.1 0.4 0.9 1.3 3.0 1.4 0.0 2.2 3.6 7.5 15.1 .495 0.1 0.4 .286 3.1 3.2 .967
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1981-82-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 64 18.8 10.2 0.3 0.6 1.0 2.5 0.7 0.0 1.3 2.2 4.3 10.1 .427 0.0 0.3 .063 1.6 1.7 .909
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 3 19.0 5.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.3 0.0 1.3 2.3 1.7 7.3 .227 0.0 1.0 .000 2.3 2.7 .875
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Calvin Murphy Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1982-83-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not Play-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy 64 22.2 12.8 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.5 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.5 5.3 11.8 .447 0.1 0.2 .286 2.2 2.3 .920
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Calvin Murphy ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
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