Comprehensive information and links about Karl Malone

Karl Malone (born July 24, 1963 in Bernice, LouisianaKarl Malone is a former professional basketball player. He was nicknamed in college as the for his consistency ("a Mailman always delivers"), and was arguably the greatest power forward ever in the NBA. In the 1997 NBA Finals, he missed two key freethrow shots at the end of regulation, which cost his Utah Jazz the game. Scottie Pippen commented to him, "The postman doesn't deliver on Sundays."

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 builders. He is also considered to be one of the best players, maybe the best, never to have won an NBA championship ring.

The Jazz have announced that Karl Malone's jersey will be retired on March 23, 2006, when the Jazz will host the Washington Wizards.

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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 player, but always went back to his strong work-ethic to make up the difference. Karl was very popular in Ruston, and remains so today. He is well known for both his athletic abilities, and his dedication to developing commerce and job opportunities in the parish.

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 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 seasons (an NBA record). He was also a physical defender and rebounder. He was widely thought of as one of the dirtiest players in the league and was sometimes accused of intentionally trying to harm other players. Some of those who suffered collisions with Karl include Isiah Thomas, David Robinson, Shawn Bradley,Steve Nash and Hakeem Olajuwon.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 in five games 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).Some people thought that he was awarded more free throws than he deserved. This was mostly because many times he had the ball and contact was made, a foul would be called. There are two commonly used explanations to this:

1) Karl, being much muscular and taller than most players, required more pressure beans and therefore personalintentional fouls would be called, along with reaching farts.

2) Since Karl was a very well known celebrity, fouls he seemed to commit were thought to be given to the opposing team, or not counted at all. (A common example of this was when San Antonio Spurs legend David "The Admiral" Robinson was injured in a game against the Jazz. The ball was passed to Malone, and Robinson came rushing to guard him. Malone couldn't penetrate, so he stepped back. His shoulder then struck Robinson, causing major injury. The foul was called on Robinson. This caused a riot among coaches, judges and players, so the replay was asked to be seen. But the Jazz refused to let the video be seen. From close distance, it seemed as if Malone really did swung his shoulder on purpose. From afar, it seemed as if Robinson got too close and was called for the reaching. To this day, the truth remains a mystery (Malone said that he had no intention of hurting Robinson, and Robinson himself didn't know for sure who deserved the foul. Nevertheless, he forgave Malone and surprisingly did not hold a grudge of any kind).

Reputation as a Dirty Player

Malone was considered by some to be a dirty player. There were numerous instances during his career where other players were injured as a result of Malone's physical playing . Below is a summary of several of the more prominent examples of Malone's perceived 'dirty' play:

At Louisiana Tech, Malone elbowed Rice center Dave Ramer in the face, shattering his cheekbone and collapsing his sinus. Ramer never played again.On December 14, 1991, Malone elbowed Isiah Thomas in the head as he drove to the basket. Thomas needed 40 stitches above his eye. Malone was suspended and fined by the NBA. Pistons coach Chuck Daly accused Malone of intentionally harming Thomas because he had scored 44 points against Utah in a Pistons victory a month earlier.Malone was famous for his "kick jumpshot," where he would kick his legs out at opposing players while shooting. He was fined for kicking Shawn Bradley on 1

(It is important to note that no specific evidence exists that any of these numerous examples of 'dirty' play were premeditated or intentional. Accusations to the contrary are purely within the realm of speculation.)

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., 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.Malone received the NBA Most Valuable Player Award twice while playing for the Jazz, in 1997 and 1999 seasons.Played in 1476 games, averaging 37.2 minutes, 51% shooting from the floor, 74% from the free throw line, 25.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.41 steals per game.Malone was named Most Valuable Player of the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, finishing the contest with 28 points and 9 rebounds.On January 27, 1990, Malone scored a career-high 61 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. He made 21 of 26 field goals and 19 of 19 free throws. It was the most points scored by a Jazz player since the team moved to Utah from New Orleans.Malone scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the 1993 NBA All-Star Game, sharing the game's MVP honors with teammate John Stockton.Against the Golden State Warriors (on March 29, 1994), Malone set a career high with 23 rebounds (11 offensive, 12 defensive).Malone posted his first career triple-double with 27 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Los Angeles Clippers on February 2, 1996.On May 11, 1997, in a playoff game against the Lakers, Malone made 18 of 18 free throws, breaking the NBA record for most free throw attempts without a miss in a single playoff game. He finished with 42 points.Malone scored 50 points and added 12 rebounds in a playoff game against the Seattle SuperSonics on April 22, 2000. The 50 points set a Jazz franchise playoff record.On November 30, 2003, while playing with the Lakers, Malone became the oldest NBA player ever to post a triple-double (at age 40). He totaled 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists in just 26 minutes against the San Antonio Spurs.Malone's 1985 draft day suit as well as that of Charles Barkley are continuously mocked on sports TV shows to this day for their dreadful colors and designs.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.Malone 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 Malone's birthday. The Jazz placed Malone in one of the vehicles in the Parade and the people cheered him as he passed by. Malone later admitted that he thought all those people were out to celebrate his birthday.Malone 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 HIV was not well-known throughout the public.Got in a feud with Kobe Bryant during the 2005-2006 season when Bryant's wife claimed that Malone made a pass at her. Malone claims the pass was simply a joke.builder. He has a rigorous work-out routine in the offseason which includes running up and down mountains. He has also made workout tapes.Malone enjoys outdoors fishing and hunting and is also a staunch supporter of the National Rifle Association.He has become known for his unusual hobby of trucking in the offseason and is a licensed 18-wheeler driver, Malone later said, "people ask me if they gave me the license just because I was Karl Malone, and I tell them 'no, I worked my butt off for this.'"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