A master of the courts, Karl Malone is admired for his high-scoring feats in basketball history. As a dedicated power forward, he committed himself to providing stellar performance on every play and achieved his reputation for his outstanding offensive presence in post areas. Earning the titles of two-time MVP and a successful string of 14 All-Star selections, Malone was ‘cemented’ into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Raised in Summerfield, Louisiana, a family of nine children of the Malone household saw their father, Shirley, sadly pass away when Malone himself was only fourteen. In those difficult times, it was his beloved matriarch Mattie who stepped up to become both mom and dad. Malone holds her in high esteem for having instilled a resilient work ethic within him.
Malone stepped onto the basketball court for the first time during high school, making an effort to get into the point guard position. However, his coach had other plans and encouraged him to move towards the post. With some hard work and determination, Malone flourished in this role- leading his high school team all the way to the state championship game during his senior year.
Malone’s next journey took him to Louisiana Tech University. This distinguished alumnus shined brightly on the hardwood during his four-year college stint and was awarded the title of All-American twice. He boasted impressive averages of 21.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, showing off a remarkable display of skill and finesse on the court.
The Utah Jazz were gifted with an incredible asset when they chose Malone with the 13th overall pick in 1985, setting into motion his epic eighteen-season tenure with the team. He eventually rose to the championship of success, earning the title of NBA Most Valuable Player in both 1997 and 1999, with fourteen additional awards of NBA All-Star.
With 36,373 total points scored, Karl Malone entrenches himself as the Jazz’s primary scorer of all time. Furthermore, Malone holds the Jazz record for most free throws fulfilled (7, 527) and attempted (9, 787).
After thirteen years with the Jazz, Malone concluded his esteemed tenure in 2003 and joined the Los Angeles Lakers. His short-lived sojourn with the storied franchise only last a single season before he resolved to hang up his jersey for good.
In 2010, Malone earned a prestigious place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His incredible contributions to the game were honored in 2006 with his number, 32, being retired by the Jazz.
Considered among the greatest power forwards ever to play professional basketball, Karl Malone achieved tremendous success in the National Basketball Association. His dominance in the paint earned him two MVP awards and a staggering 14 selections to the coveted All-Star team. In 2010, he was formally enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as recognition of his incomparable contributions to the game. Furthermore, his stellar defensive and rebounding capabilities made him one of the toughest competitors ever to grace the court.
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Post time: 2023-06-30