Mychal Thompson vs. Karl-Anthony Towns Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mychal Thompson, 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.

Mychal Thompson played 12 years in the NBA, 3 more than Karl-Anthony Towns, who played 9. Mychal Thompson had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, 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
Mychal Thompson 12 11 1978-79 to 1990-91
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

Rookie Season

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1978-792015-16
Team Portland Trail BlazersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rookie of the Year
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Mychal Thompson 73 29.4 14.7 2.7 5.6 8.3 2.4 0.9 1.8 2.8 3.7 6.3 12.8 .490 - - - 2.1 3.7 .572
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 %
Mychal Thompson 3 40.3 19.7 3.0 7.3 10.3 2.0 0.7 1.7 1.7 3.7 9.0 18.0 .500 - - - 1.7 3.3 .500
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Note: Mychal Thompson didn't play in 1979-80.

Season 2

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1980-812016-17
Team Portland Trail BlazersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Mychal Thompson 79 35.3 17.0 2.8 5.9 8.7 3.6 0.8 2.2 3.1 3.3 7.2 14.6 .494 0.0 0.0 .000 2.6 4.1 .641
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 %
Mychal Thompson 3 44.0 25.0 1.7 6.0 7.7 1.3 1.0 3.0 2.3 3.3 10.3 17.0 .608 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 6.0 .722
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1981-822017-18
Team Portland Trail BlazersMinnesota 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 %
Mychal Thompson 79 39.6 20.8 3.3 8.4 11.7 4.0 0.9 1.4 3.1 2.9 8.6 16.5 .523 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 5.6 .628
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 %
Mychal Thompson ------- --- ----------
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

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1982-832018-19
Team Portland Trail BlazersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Mychal Thompson 80 37.7 15.7 2.3 7.1 9.4 4.8 0.9 1.4 3.5 2.7 6.3 12.9 .489 0.0 0.0 .000 3.1 5.0 .621
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 %
Mychal Thompson 7 40.6 15.0 2.3 5.7 8.0 5.6 0.9 1.1 4.0 3.4 5.7 12.1 .471 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.4 .658
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1983-842019-20
Team Portland Trail BlazersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Mychal Thompson 79 33.5 15.7 3.0 5.7 8.7 3.9 1.1 1.4 3.0 3.0 6.2 11.8 .524 0.0 0.0 .000 3.4 5.1 .667
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 %
Mychal Thompson 4 30.3 15.3 2.3 5.0 7.3 3.8 1.3 0.8 1.5 2.8 5.5 11.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.5 .773
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1984-852020-21
Team Portland Trail BlazersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Mychal Thompson 79 33.1 18.4 2.7 5.2 7.8 2.6 1.0 1.3 2.9 2.7 7.2 14.1 .515 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.7 .684
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 %
Mychal Thompson 9 27.8 14.8 2.8 5.2 8.0 1.6 0.8 1.3 2.1 3.6 5.6 11.3 .490 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.4 .673
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1985-862021-22
Team Portland Trail BlazersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 %
Mychal Thompson 82 31.3 14.7 2.2 5.2 7.4 2.1 0.9 0.4 2.4 3.3 6.1 12.3 .498 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.8 .641
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 %
Mychal Thompson 4 35.0 19.0 2.8 5.5 8.3 3.5 0.3 0.8 2.5 3.3 7.8 13.5 .574 0.0 0.0 - 3.5 6.5 .538
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

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1986-872022-23
Team San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves 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 %
Mychal Thompson 82 23.0 11.4 1.7 3.3 5.0 1.4 0.5 0.9 1.6 2.5 4.4 9.7 .450 0.0 0.0 .500 2.7 3.6 .737
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 %
Mychal Thompson 18 22.3 8.8 1.6 3.3 4.9 0.5 0.4 0.9 0.9 2.8 3.4 7.6 .453 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.8 .680
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

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1987-882023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves TBD
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mychal Thompson 80 25.1 11.6 2.5 3.6 6.1 0.8 0.5 1.0 1.4 3.1 4.6 9.0 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.7 .634
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 %
Mychal Thompson 24 25.6 9.7 2.6 4.5 7.1 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.4 2.9 4.1 8.0 .513 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.6 .581
Karl-Anthony Towns 6 29.8 20.7 1.7 7.3 9.0 2.3 0.5 0.3 1.7 4.3 7.3 12.8 .571 2.3 4.3 .538 3.7 4.3 .846

Season 10

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1988-89-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mychal Thompson 80 24.9 9.2 2.0 3.9 5.8 0.6 0.7 0.7 1.2 2.8 3.6 6.5 .559 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .678
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mychal Thompson 15 25.1 11.4 2.6 2.5 5.1 0.7 0.4 0.8 0.9 3.5 4.3 8.5 .508 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 4.0 .683
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1989-90-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mychal Thompson 70 26.9 10.1 2.5 4.3 6.8 0.6 0.5 1.0 1.1 3.0 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.9 .706
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mychal Thompson 9 25.0 6.4 1.7 2.7 4.3 0.2 0.2 1.4 1.9 2.9 2.3 4.9 .477 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.9 .615
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Mychal Thompson Karl-Anthony Towns
Season 1990-91-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mychal Thompson 72 15.0 4.0 1.0 2.1 3.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.6 1.6 3.2 .496 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.2 .705
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Mychal Thompson 8 5.3 0.5 0.4 0.8 1.1 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.1 1.3 0.3 0.9 .286 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Karl-Anthony Towns ------- --- ----------