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Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA, Tim Duncan, CC BY-SA 2.0
Note: Updated for Tim Duncan’s 2020 Hall of Fame selection.
Over time, the role of the NBA power forward has evolved from a big, bruising player who, together with the center, does most of his work close to the rim (think Bob Pettit) into a more agile, versatile player who can play all over the court (e.g. Kevin Love). However, even as the profile of the power forward has changed over time, any discussion of the greatest power forwards in league history continues to revolve among a few names, including Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz. Both were multiple-time MVP winners and consistent First Team All-NBA performers – in comparing their careers side-by-side, the question is:
Who was better – Tim Duncan or Karl Malone?
The Beginning
Both Duncan and Malone entered the NBA with high expectations as first round picks (in fact, Duncan is considered one of the surest bets ever to come out of college), pairing with fellow Hall of Fame players to immediately achieve both personal success and also plant the seeds for long-term franchise success.
A native of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Duncan grew up as a swimmer and did not pick up basketball until ninth grade; nevertheless, he quickly blossomed and would attend Wake Forest on a basketball scholarship. At Wake Forest, he became one of the best players in college basketball and was projected to be a top pick if he left early for the NBA, but stayed for four years to fulfill a promise to his mother to graduate with a degree. By the end of his senior year, he was 3x All-ACC First Team, 3x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x First Team All-American, 2x ACC Player of the Year, and the winner of both the Wooden and Naismith Awards. When he finally entered the NBA Draft in 1997, Duncan was easily the number one overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs (a team coming off an injury-plagued year) and would team with star center David Robinson to form a new “Twin Towers”. Duncan’s impact was immediate and enormous – as a rookie, he averaged 21.1 points per game on a career-high 54.9% shooting with 11.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, and was named Rookie of the Year, an All-Star, All-Defensive Second Team, and All-NBA First Team.
Meanwhile, after leading his high school to three straight Louisiana Class C basketball titles, Malone attended nearby Louisiana Tech; after sitting out his freshman year due to academic ineligibility, he was a 3x All-Southland selection, including being named 1983 Southland Player of the Year, and led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the school’s history, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. As a result, Malone was drafted 13th overall in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz and had a strong rookie season, posting 14.9 points per game on 49.6% shooting with 8.9 rebounds per game, and garnering All-Rookie honors while finishing third in the Rookie of the Year voting (won by Patrick Ewing). Moreover, it was the beginning of a nearly 20-year partnership with point guard John Stockton, as the duo would become one of the most prolific combos in NBA history.
Career Comparison
In addition to becoming consistent 20-and-10 players who were both multiple-time MVP winners and annual First Team All-NBA selections, Duncan and Malone were part of a dying breed of players that spent their entire careers (or virtually all of it) with one franchise.
Duncan’s incredible rookie year would be the start of a remarkable run of consistency – over the next eight seasons, he averaged at least 20+ points, 11+ rebounds, and 2+ blocks per game on better than 49% shooting; during that span, he also achieved the trifecta of being an All-Star every season (except for the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 season, when it was not held), as well as First Team All-NBA and First or Second Team All-Defensive each year. The apex of his career was back-to-back MVPs in the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons, fittingly joining Robinson as the only two MVPs in Spurs history:
- 2001-2002: career-high 25.5 points (50.8% shooting), 12.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game
- 2002-2003: 23.3 points (51.3% shooting), career-best 12.9 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game
With Robinson’s retirement after the 2002-2003 season, Duncan would assume the role of San Antonio’s unquestioned franchise cornerstone and leader, and formed an international triumvirate with French point guard Tony Parker and shooting guard Manu Ginobili of Argentina. As he entered mid-career, Duncan’s numbers also began a slow decline, though he remained a force on both ends of the court. The 2005-2006 season was statistically the worst of his career, with Duncan “only” averaging 18.6 points (on a career-worst 48.4% shooting) with 11.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game; for most players, a Second Team All-NBA selection would be a great accomplishment, but for Duncan, it was the first time in his career that he was not chosen for First Team All-NBA. Nevertheless, he would bounce back the following season and once again make First Team All-NBA in 2006-2007 with 20.0 points (54.6% shooting), 10.6 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game.
As he entered his 30s, Duncan’s minutes began to wane and instead of the automatic 20-and-10 presence he was earlier in his career, he gradually dipped to the 15-point, 9-rebound per game range, including a career-low 13.4 points per game in 2010-2011; the 2012-2013 season would be Duncan’s last First Team All-NBA selection on the strength of 17.8 points (50.2% shooting), 9.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Even with reduced playing time, Duncan would make his final All-Star Game appearance, and be named Third Team All-NBA and Second Team All-Defensive in 2014-2015 before quietly retiring after the following season at age 39, having spent his entire career with the Spurs.
Likewise, throughout his long and illustrious career, Malone was a model of consistency – starting in his second season, he would post 17 consecutive 20+ point per game seasons, including 14 straight years with also at least 9 rebounds per game. During this stretch, the late 1980s and early 1990s were some of his highest scoring years, as Malone averaged at least 27 points per game in six straight seasons from 1987 to 1993; of particular note:
- 1987-1988: 27.7 points (52.0% shooting) and a career-high 12.0 rebounds per game; this was the first of 14 straight All-Star Games for Malone (not held in the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 season) and resulted in Second Team All-NBA honors for the first time
- 1988-1989: 29.1 points (51.9% shooting) and 10.7 rebound per game; first of 11 straight First Team All-NBA selections
- 1989-1990: career-high 31.0 points per game (on a career-best 56.2% shooting) and 11.1 rebounds per game; this included a career-high 61 points vs. the Milwaukee Bucks on January 27, 1990
Throughout the mid-1990s, Malone continued to be a steady 25-and-10 guy for the Jazz before hitting his MVP peak in the late 1990s. In the 1996-1997 season, Malone averaged 27.4 points on 55.0% shooting with 9.9 rebounds per game to narrowly edge out Michael Jordan for his first MVP title. The tables were turned the next season, as Malone finished second to Jordan despite having another stellar year (27.0 points on 53.0% shooting and 10.3 rebounds per game). Then, with Jordan having retired a second time, Malone took home his second MVP in the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 season, though statistically it was not one of his best years by his own high standards (23.8 points on 49.3% shooting with 9.4 rebounds per game in 50 games played).
As the 2000s rolled around, Malone’s numbers began to wane, though he continued to average 20 points per game and 8-9 rebounds per game in his post-MVP years. His longtime running mate Stockton retired after the 2002-2003 season and Malone became a free agent, opting to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers to chase an elusive championship ring. However, despite posting solid numbers, he only played in 42 games and would retire after the 2003-2004 season at age 40, finishing second in NBA history in career points scored behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 36,928 points.
Both Duncan and Malone played across 19 NBA seasons, though their career and statistical profiles look fairly different. While Malone was the better scorer (25.0 vs. 19.0 points), more accurate shooter (51.6% to 50.6% in field goals, 74.2% to 69.6% in free throws), and slightly better passer (3.6 to 3.0 assists), Duncan was the superior rebounder (10.8 to 10.1 rebounds) and shot-blocker (2.2 vs. 0.8 blocks). In terms of how this translated to career accomplishments, both were 2x MVPs, while Duncan holds the slight edge in both All-Star Games and All-NBA selections (15 to 14 in both); the biggest differential comes on the defensive end, where Duncan was also 15x All-Defensive vs. only 4x for Malone. Moreover, looking at advanced stats, Duncan also narrowly leads in Player Efficiency Rating (PER), but Malone has more career Win-Shares (as he continued to have heavy usage later in his career). As two of the most dominant power forwards, both are Hall of Fame locks – Malone was inducted in his first year of eligibility in 2010, as was Duncan in 2020.
Regular Season Statistics
| Tim Duncan | Player | Karl Malone |
| 19 (1997-2016) | Seasons | 19 (1985-2004) |
| 1,392 | Games Played | 1,476 |
| 19.0 | Points | 25.0 |
| 10.8 | Rebounds | 10.1 |
| 3.0 | Assists | 3.6 |
| 2.2 | Blocks | 0.8 |
| 50.6% | Field Goal % | 51.6% |
| 69.6% | Free Throw % | 74.2% |
| 24.2 | PER | 23.9 |
| 206.4 | Win Shares | 234.6 |
| 15x | All-Star Games | 14x |
| 15x | All-NBA | 14x |
| 2x | MVP | 2x |
| 5x | NBA Titles | – |
| 3x | NBA Finals MVP | – |
| 15x All-Defensive, ROY, All-Rookie | Other Awards | 4x All-Defensive, All-Rookie |
| 2020 | Hall of Fame Induction | 2010 |
Source: Basketball-Reference.com
In an incredible feat of consistency, both Duncan and Malone led their teams to the playoffs in every season of their careers (though Duncan missed the 2000 postseason due to a meniscus injury suffered shortly before the end of the regular season). Interestingly, Duncan’s playoff numbers are actually slightly better than his regular season stats, whereas Malone’s are generally worse; in particular, perhaps most glaring is the Mailman’s shooting percentage dropping from 51%+ to under 47%. This contributes to one of the biggest differences in their careers – Duncan was a 5x NBA champion, while Malone (like many great players from the Jordan era) never won a ring.
In addition to winning five NBA titles, Duncan was a 3x Finals MVP:
- 1999: 27.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game as the Spurs beat the New York Knicks 4-1
- 2003: 24.2 points, 17.0 rebounds, and an astounding 5.3 blocks per game as the Spurs overcame the Jason Kidd-led New Jersey Nets 4-2
- 2005: 20.6 points, 14.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game in a tough seven-game victory over the Detroit Pistons
In the Spurs’ 2007 Finals sweep over a young LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Duncan took a backseat to MVP Tony Parker, though did average a double-double and led the team in rebounding. The only time he came up short in the NBA Finals was in 2013, when the Spurs lost to an older James and the Miami Heat; despite a strong series for Duncan, who played increased minutes beyond his regular season workload and led the team in both scoring and rebounding, the Heat prevailed in seven games, highlighted by Ray Allen’s game-tying three-pointer in Game 6 (which the Heat eventually won). The next season, however, the Spurs got revenge and beat the Heat 4-1, with Duncan averaging a double-double once again and leading the team in rebounding.
In contrast to Duncan’s success in the playoffs, Malone holds the dubious distinction of most career postseason losses (95). In 1987-1988, he averaged 29.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in a herculean 45 minutes per game, but the Jazz fell in the Western Conference Semifinals to Magic Johnson and the Lakers. The Jazz made it a step further to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 1991-1992 behind Malone’s 29.1 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, but then fell to the Portland Trail Blazers in six games. During the 1990s, in an era dominated by Jordan and the Bulls, the closest Utah came to an NBA title was back-to-back NBA Finals appearances:
- 1997: lost to the Bulls in six games; Malone averaged 23.8 points on only 44.3% shooting with 10.3 rebounds per game, and struggled in some crucial situations
- 1998: again lost to the Bulls in six games, with the defining moment being Jordan’s game-winning shot over Byron Russell in Game 6; Malone was better the second time around, averaging 25.0 points (50.4% shooting) and 10.5 rebounds per game
Finally, in his last season with the Lakers, Los Angeles would fall in five games in the NBA Finals to the Detroit Pistons; Malone was a role player by then, averaging only 5.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the series.
Additionally, both Duncan and Malone were stalwarts for Team USA throughout their careers. After winning gold medals at the 1993 and 1997 FIBA Americas Championships, Duncan missed the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney due to his previously mentioned injury, but was part of the 2004 team that stumbled to bronze in Athens (and led to the formation of the Redeem Team for the 2008 Games in Beijing). Malone actually had greater success on the international stage as part of the gold medal-winning teams in both 1992 in Barcelona and 1996 in Atlanta.
Playoff Statistics
| Tim Duncan | Player | Karl Malone |
| 251 | Games Played | 193 |
| 20.6 | Points | 24.7 |
| 11.4 | Rebounds | 10.7 |
| 3.0 | Assists | 3.2 |
| 2.3 | Blocks | 0.7 |
| 50.1% | Field Goal % | 46.3% |
| 68.9% | Free Throw % | 73.6% |
| 24.3 | PER | 21.1 |
| 37.8 | Win Shares | 23.0 |
Source: Basketball-Reference.com
Every athlete goes through a natural career lifecycle, from starting off as a rookie to reaching peak years of performance and finally, declining into the inevitable retirement due to a combination of age and/or injury; despite the long and sustained brilliance of their careers, Duncan and Malone would nevertheless decline due to Father Time in their later years. For Hall of Fame caliber players across sports, I like to look at a concept I call a “decade of dominance.” The thinking behind this is that for most Hall of Fame type careers, there are roughly 10 great seasons that define an athlete (this idea is embodied in a sense by the NFL’s All-Decade teams), though due to injury or other factors, they might not be 10 consecutive years.
Decade of Dominance
| Tim Duncan | Player | Karl Malone |
| 1997-2005, 2006-2008 | Decade of Dominance | 1987-1993, 1994-1998 |
| 744 | Games Played | 816 |
| 21.9 | Points | 27.9 |
| 11.9 | Rebounds | 10.9 |
| 3.1 | Assists | 3.4 |
| 2.5 | Blocks | 0.8 |
| 51.0% | Field Goal % | 53.4% |
| 68.9% | Free Throw % | 75.1% |
| 25.3 | PER | 25.7 |
| 130.4 | Win Shares | 149.2 |
Source: Basketball-Reference.com
As great as their full career numbers are, looking at their respective decades of dominance (i.e. the better halves of their careers) further illustrates how truly great Duncan and Malone each were in their primes. Each player’s numbers rise significantly across the board and the comparisons generally hold true, though Malone actually surpasses Duncan in terms of PER as well.
My Thoughts
Tim Duncan and Karl Malone are arguably the two best power forwards in NBA history, and will be remembered for both their outstanding play and longtime association with two smaller market franchises in San Antonio and Utah. The consistency each displayed was incredible and perhaps may never be replicated – if you look through the All-Star Game rosters and/or All-NBA Teams, each one shows up year after year like clockwork. Between the two, however, I think a few things ultimately differentiate Duncan from Malone. Admittedly, Malone was the better scorer (and is an all-time legendary scorer), but Duncan was the better all-around player on both sides of the court, as evidenced by his annual All-Defensive selections. Moreover, Duncan was the bigger winner, with five NBA titles and three NBA Finals MVP trophies to his name, while Malone headlines the long and accomplished list of Hall of Famers who came up short in the Jordan era (Stockton, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, etc.).
Thus, after weighing their careers against each other in terms of statistics, achievements, and impact, the winner of this faceoff is:
Tim Duncan
As always, vote for your choice and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Further Reading
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