![]() ![]() He finished third in the voting for Rookie of the Year honors and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. The fact that he played in relative obscurity at Louisiana Tech, averaging 18.7 ppg and 9.3 rpg in three collegiate seasons, may have caused him to slip so low.Īs a rookie, Malone averaged 14.9 ppg and 8.9 rpg. If professional scouts had correctly predicted the impact Malone would have on the NBA, he would have been picked much higher than 13th in the 1985 NBA Draft. After being around him and talking to him, I understand why he has played so long and I also understand why he has played so well over his career.” The thing that stands out to me is the professionalism. The things you didn’t know about him, you start to get to know. “But over the last year, especially this year doing TV, I have a new respect for him. When a guy throws an extra elbow or tries to knock you down, I’ve always viewed that as part of the game, especially if you let him get away with it. ![]() “But that didn’t bother me because he was trying to win. “He was extremely physical, and at times he was borderline cheap,” Doc Rivers, a contemporary of Malone’s, recalled in his role as an analyst. Karl Malone was one of the most consistent scorers in NBA history, finishing his career with 36,928 points, second on the all-time scoring list. That earned him numerous selections to the First Team NBA All-Interview, and begrudgingly respect among his peers. Malone also never shied away from speaking his mind or comporting to what others thought about him. Not fitting the mold of a stereotypical superstar, he remained fond of his rustic ways of fishing, hunting and loved to drive his truck and motorcycles. He worked hard on and off the court with a rigorous offseason training that contributed mightily to his durability. ![]() Malone exceeded many expectations of a country boy from Summerfield, La., a town with a population 200. They are very physical at both ends of the court, and they have the experience of being able to play technically and tactically.” “They are very well drilled in the physical game. “They are masters at getting into peoples’ heads,” said legendary NBA coach Pat Riley of the two near the end of their careers in Utah. The two were so intertwined with their infamous (to defenders) pick-and-roll that was almost impossible to stop and Stockton constantly feeding Malone for baskets that the phrase “Stockton to Malone” became a NBA maxim. The two played together for the next 18 years, never missing the postseason. Stockton was drafted by the Jazz in 1984 and the subsequent year the team drafted Malone. How many of Malone’s field goals came at the end of a Stockton pass may never be calculated but surely the vast majority. The two formed the most consistent guard-forward combination in NBA history. Malone will also be forever linked to Utah Jazz teammate and point guard John Stockton. As a player who consistently delivered on the court, he deserved the nickname of “The Mailman.” He was also selected to the 50th Anniversary All-Time Team and won two Olympic gold medals. He also attempted more free throws and grabbed more defensive rebounds than any player in NBA history. The two-time MVP finished his career with 36,928 points second only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Built more like a tight end than a basketball player, his size and strength made him difficult to defend in the low block, but he also filled the lane on the fast break and shot a deadly medium-range jumper. Karl Malone is arguably the greatest power forward of all time. > Archive 75: Karl Malone | 75 Stories: Karl Malone 2 all-time scorer and one of the best power forwards ever. ![]()
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