Karl Malone

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Karl Malone

Karl Malone (born July 24, 1963 in Bernice, Louisiana) is a former professional basketball player. He was nicknamed in college as the Mailman for his consistency ("a Mailman always delivers"), and was arguably the greatest power forward ever in the NBA.

Malone spent his first 18 seasons (1985 - 2003) as the star player for the Utah Jazz. He then played one season (2003-04) for the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring from the game.

Malone was famous for his extremely well-defined physique, which rivalled bodybuilders. He is also considered to be one of the best players never to have won an NBA championship ring.

1 College Career
2 NBA career
3 Achievements and Awards
4 Trivia
5 Other interests
6 External links

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College Career

Karl played for three years at Louisiana Tech University. He was ineligible to play his first year because of low grades and he worked hard to raise his average to qualify. This became the hallmark of Karl's career. He was seldom the most talented player, but always went back to his strong work-ethic to make up the difference.

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NBA career

Karl Malone was chosen by the Jazz in 1985 out of Louisiana Tech with the 13th overall pick in the draft.
After his rookie season, the Jazz saw in him the potential to be the corner-stone of their offense. So, they traded star forward, Adrian Dantley, to the Detroit Pistons and decided to build around him.
Karl's work ethic features prominently in his formative years in the NBA where he raised his free throw shooting percentage from below 50% to 75% in a few years. He also added a long range jump shot which made him virtually unguardable.
At the same time, reserve point guard, John Stockton, was winning the trust of the coaching staff. By 1987 Karl was the foundation of the offense and Stockton was the floor general and both had all-star seasons. That season was also the first for head coach Jerry Sloan. The three would be inseparable for 16 seasons. It was also at the end of that season that the Jazz as a team rose to national prominence after an amazing playoffs series against the Magic Johnson-led Los Angeles Lakers.
For many years, he and Stockton played together on the Jazz, forming one of the most productive guard-forward combinations in NBA history. Playing Jerry Sloan's scrappy and tough style and perfecting the pick and roll to a maximum degree of efficiency, the Jazz became a staple to make it to the playoffs and to have a winning record in the regular season.
Karl was a very physical player. He liked to draw contact and put other players in foul trouble. As a result, he would lead the NBA in free throws made seven separate season (an NBA record). He was also a physical defender and rebounder. Compounded with his great strength, this led to accusations of dirty play or attempts to intentionally harm other players. Some of those who suffered collisions with Karl include Isiah Thomas, David Robinson, Shawn Bradley and Steve Nash.
By the mid-90's the Utah Jazz had risen to power as one of the top five teams in the league and had started to knock on the doors of the NBA Finals. They finally got there in 1997 and 1998 but were defeated both times by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.
In 1999 (the year after Jordan's retirement), the Jazz were the favorites to win, but instead started a gradual decline that was a reflection of the aging of their two superstar players. Eventually, Stockton would retire at the end of the 2003 season.
Karl stayed for one more season, joining the Los Angeles Lakers to try and win a championship, the only major achievement that had eluded him in his career. His bid failed as the Lakers were defeated by the Detroit Pistons in 2004.
Although several NBA teams sought his services for the 2004-2005 season, Malone decided to retire as a player on February 13, 2005.
Karl Malone wore number 32 for the Utah Jazz. He wore number 11 for the Los Angeles Lakers (number 32 was retired honoring Magic Johnson) and also for the Dream Team (the players wore 4 to 15 to adhere to FIBA rules).

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Achievements and Awards

Stockton and Malone shattered many NBA records while playing together. Stockton holds the NBA record for most career assists and steals, while Malone holds the records for most free throws attempted and made, as well as being second all-time on the NBA career scoring list, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Both he and Stockton were selected to be a part of the Dream Team, the legendary 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team that was the first to feature professional NBA players. They are two-time Olympic Gold medalists, having won one in 1992 and another 1996 in Atlanta.
Both hold many records of longevity, having faced very few long term injuries in their careers and having played for 19 seasons each.
Between them, they hold almost every major statistical record for the Utah Jazz franchise.
Malone received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award twice while playing for the Jazz, in 1997 and 1999 seasons.
Voted in 1996 to the NBA's 50 Greatest Players list.
Voted to 11 All-NBA first teams, two second teams and one third team.
Voted an All-Star 14 times. MVP of the All-Star game in 1989 and co-MVP in 1993 with Stockton.
Voted to three NBA All-Defensive teams and one second team.
Malone was ranked #13 on Slam Magazine's Top 75 NBA Players of all time in 2003.

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Trivia

In Salt Lake City the Stockton-to-Malone phrase is commemorated by a car dealership with the name Stockton to Malone Honda. The owner of the Jazz, Larry Miller, partnered with them to start this dealership. Some critics of Miller suggest that it was compensation for not being paid as much as other NBA superstars during their prime.
Karl's 1985 draft day suit as well as that of Charles Barkley are continuously mocked on sports TV shows until today for their dreadful colors and designs.
Has a feud with Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant which is rumored to have led to Malone's rejection of the Lakers after the 2004 finals and decision to retire. Bryant had come out with very critical words towards Malone alleging he made suggestive comments to Bryant's wife.
Malone's daughter, Cheryl Ford, plays for the Detroit Shock in the WNBA, and was a key component of their WNBA Championship team in 2003.
The first time Karl Malone got to Utah (in a highschool game) he thought it was a European country.
Karl arrived in Salt Lake City to join the Jazz on July 24th 1985. July 24th is Pioneer Day in Utah, but it also happens to be Karl's birthday. The Jazz placed Karl in one of the vehicles in the Parade and the people cheered him as he passed by. Karl later professed that he thought all those people were out to celebrate his birthday.
Karl was critical of the NBA's decision to allow Magic Johnson to play despite having tested positive for HIV, though it was at a time where information about the HIV virus was not well-known throughout the public.
He now lives in Choudrant, Louisiana.

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Other interests

Malone is a workout freak who was perhaps the first NBA player to have a body chiseled like that of a bodybuilder. He has a rigorous work-out routine in the offseason which includes running up and down mountains. He has also made workout tapes.
Malone played a minor acting role in the 1994 bomb Rockwell: A Legend of the Wild West about Orrin Porter Rockwell. His appearance and accent were frequently parodied by comedian Jimmy Kimmel (who impersonated Malone) on Comedy Central's The Man Show in the late 90s.
Malone enjoys outdoors fishing and hunting and is also a staunch supporter of the National Rifle Association.
He has considered running for governor of Arkansas on the Republican Party ticket.
He has become known for his unusual hobby of trucking in the offseason. He also used to enjoy riding his Harley prior to games.
Malone wrestled a match for World Championship Wrestling on July 12, 1998 at Bash at the Beach. He teamed with Diamond Dallas Page and lost to Dennis Rodman & Hulk Hogan of the nWo.