Higher on your All Time List: Karl Malone or David Robinson

[eminence]

Interesting question. I voted Robinson because he's pretty similar in terms of peak, accolades and prime relevance, with comparable issues in the playoffs. Malone's got longevity on him, but I don't know that I care too much about that in this context. We're talking about 5 extra seasons, one of which was in LA, and the Utah seasons showing withering scoring efficiency but still supported the whole way by Stockton and Sloan. It just doesn't mean too much extra to mean in an all-time context.

But I don't think it's a large gap; I find them to be very much in a similar tier all-time, even if I think Robinson was a considerably better player because he was so much more valuable on D.

5 season gap is counting Robinsons 6 game '97 as a full season.

If viewing them similarly for prime (as I pretty strongly feel one should), I don't see a way to get them equal for career.

A ~14 to ~12 relevant season edge to Malone is the most generous I can get for Robinson (88-01 vs 90-02 minus '97). 14 to 10 for PO runs, with Robinson missing in '92/'02.

[tsherkin]

5 season gap is counting Robinsons 6 game '97 as a full season.

True. Doesn't change too much in my opinion, but I did think of that... as soon as I'd already hit Submit, lol.

[migya]

Put them in each other's situations and what happens?

Robinson for me.

As much as I like Robinson Malone carried much for those Utah teams, particularly scoring, and Robinson couldn't carry much more, noone really could.

[tsherkin]

Put them in each other's situations and what happens?

Robinson for me.

As much as I like Robinson Malone carried much for those Utah teams, particularly scoring, and Robinson couldn't carry much more, noone really could.

I think the big difference apart from longevity (which favors Malone) is the VERY large gap on defense (which favors Robinson). He was a top-2 defender in the league when he was healthy and a MUCH better help defender. Otherwise, he was quite similar offensively: very good at racking up volume and efficiency over the RS, but with a game which broke down in the playoffs when he had to rely on self-creation and using his J more, just like the Mailman. More athletic, much better slasher, not nearly as good with physicality as Malone, but the end result was the same: high FTr, low FG% postseasons against good teams.

And D Rob never had Stockton or any other player of even remotely comparable quality helping him until Duncan was drafted (which, of course, is the main reason Robinson has rings and Malone doesn't).