John Starks vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns and John Starks, 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.

John Starks played 13 years in the NBA, 4 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 9. John Starks had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, 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
John Starks 13 9 1988-89 to 2001-02
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

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1988-892015-16
Team Golden State WarriorsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement 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 %
John Starks 36 8.8 4.1 0.4 0.7 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.5 .408 0.3 0.7 .385 0.9 1.4 .654
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 %
John Starks ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Note: John Starks didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 2

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1990-912016-17
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Starks 61 19.2 7.6 0.5 1.7 2.1 3.3 1.0 0.3 1.2 2.2 3.0 6.7 .439 0.4 1.5 .290 1.3 1.7 .752
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 %
John Starks 3 9.3 2.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.3 0.7 1.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 3

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1991-922017-18
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 %
John Starks 82 25.8 13.9 0.5 1.8 2.3 3.4 1.3 0.2 1.8 2.8 4.9 11.0 .449 1.1 3.3 .348 2.9 3.7 .778
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 %
John Starks 12 24.6 12.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.2 1.4 0.0 1.8 3.8 3.8 10.3 .374 0.9 3.8 .239 3.5 4.3 .808
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

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1992-932018-19
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Starks 80 31.0 17.5 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.1 1.1 0.2 2.2 2.9 6.4 15.0 .428 1.4 4.2 .321 3.3 4.1 .795
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 %
John Starks 15 38.3 16.5 0.3 3.2 3.5 6.4 1.0 0.2 3.7 3.8 5.9 13.3 .440 1.9 5.0 .373 2.9 4.0 .717
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 5

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1993-942019-20
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Starks 59 34.9 19.0 0.6 2.5 3.1 5.9 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.2 6.9 16.6 .420 1.9 5.7 .335 3.2 4.2 .754
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 %
John Starks 25 33.6 14.6 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.6 1.4 0.1 2.3 3.4 4.4 11.6 .381 1.9 5.3 .356 3.9 5.0 .770
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 6

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1994-952020-21
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
John Starks 80 34.1 15.3 0.4 2.3 2.7 5.1 1.2 0.1 2.0 3.2 5.2 13.3 .395 2.7 7.6 .355 2.1 2.9 .737
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 %
John Starks 11 34.5 15.6 0.2 2.1 2.3 5.2 1.2 0.1 2.4 3.6 5.3 11.7 .450 2.7 6.6 .411 2.4 3.8 .619
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 7

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1995-962021-22
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 %
John Starks 81 30.8 12.6 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.9 1.3 0.1 1.9 2.8 4.6 10.4 .443 1.8 4.9 .361 1.6 2.1 .753
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 %
John Starks 8 39.3 16.0 0.4 3.3 3.6 4.1 1.6 0.1 3.1 3.3 4.9 10.9 .448 2.6 5.6 .467 3.6 4.9 .744
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

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1996-972022-23
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 %
John Starks 77 26.5 13.8 0.5 2.2 2.7 2.8 1.2 0.1 2.1 2.5 4.8 11.1 .431 1.9 5.3 .369 2.2 2.9 .769
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 %
John Starks 9 28.3 14.0 0.8 2.7 3.4 2.8 1.1 0.0 2.2 2.8 4.9 11.0 .444 1.4 4.6 .317 2.8 3.4 .806
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

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1997-982023-24
Team New York KnicksMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisTimberwolves TBD
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Starks 82 26.7 12.9 0.6 2.2 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.1 1.7 2.5 4.5 11.5 .393 1.6 4.9 .327 2.3 2.9 .787
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 %
John Starks 10 31.4 16.4 0.4 3.6 4.0 2.3 1.6 0.1 1.1 3.5 5.9 12.5 .472 2.5 5.9 .424 2.1 2.4 .875
Karl-Anthony Towns 10 31.7 18.4 2.0 7.0 9.0 2.9 0.6 0.2 1.7 3.8 6.7 13.1 .511 2.1 4.4 .477 2.9 3.6 .806

Season 10

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1998-99-
Team Golden State Warriors-
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 %
John Starks 50 33.7 13.8 0.7 2.6 3.3 4.7 1.4 0.1 1.7 2.7 5.4 14.6 .370 1.6 5.4 .290 1.5 2.0 .740
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Starks ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 11

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1999-00-
Team Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls-
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 %
John Starks 37 32.2 13.9 0.3 2.5 2.7 4.9 1.1 0.1 1.8 2.8 5.5 14.6 .375 1.6 4.6 .345 1.4 1.6 .847
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Starks ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 12

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2000-01-
Team Utah Jazz-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
John Starks 75 28.3 9.3 0.4 1.7 2.1 2.4 1.0 0.1 1.3 2.9 3.6 9.1 .398 0.9 2.4 .352 1.2 1.5 .802
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Starks 3 12.0 3.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.7 1.3 4.0 .333 0.3 1.3 .250 0.7 0.7 1.000
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 13

John Starks Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 2001-02-
Team Utah Jazz-
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 %
John Starks 66 14.1 4.4 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.9 1.7 4.7 .368 0.4 1.4 .305 0.5 0.6 .805
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Starks ------- --- ----------
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------