post : Forward
Few role player of late time of origin have been as dependable as Karl Malone . Through his first 18 geezerhood in the NBA , the Utah Jazz muscle gentleman’s gentleman missed just 10 game , succeed two All - Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards , deliver the goods two regular time of year MVPs , and catch amber medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games .
In a 1992 poll of NBA autobus and general managers by Sports Illustrated , Malone was voted the good forward in the game by more than a two - to - one gross profit margin overCharles Barkley .
Nicknamed " The postman " because he always delivered , Malone revolutionized the exponent - forward-moving post in the eighties and 1990s . No player before him had ever boasted a like combination of size ( 6'9 '' , 256 pounds ) and speed .
The NBA unwrap quickly that Malone was a runaway train on the fastbreak . opponent who bewilder in his way gamble injury as well as the opening of a three - level caper . Malone lead the NBA in free - cam stroke try for five consecutive seasons from 1988 - 1989 to 1992 - 1993 and seven times overall .
Malone ’s contributions were n’t limited to layups and dunks . His specialty and bulk made him nearly unstoppable in the low post ; he was a English bulldog on the gameboard , and his outside shot and passing improved dramatically as his career wear out on .
Defensively , he savour the rough and spill of the NBA , to the point that resister such as Dominique Wilkins accused him of dirty play . In a game against Detroit in 1991 , he elbowed Pistons guard Isiah Thomas , opening a cut above Thomas ’s left eye that required 40 stitches .
The 8th of nine kid , Malone was stick out July 24 , 1963 , in rural Summerfield , Louisiana . As a youth , he had wild hair and a devil - may - care attitude toward school . He became abasketballstandout and led his high school team to three successive land backup , but wretched grade nearly ruined his opportunity to play college basketball . He drop his first year at Louisiana Tech University working to take in his eligibility .
In 1984 , Bobby Knight cut him from the U.S. Olympic team . But during the 1984 - 85 time of year , Louisiana Tech went 29 - 3 and forward-looking to the third rhythm of the NCAA Tournament . throw overboard his final year of eligibility , Malone go 13th in the 1985 NBA potation , behind such lesser talents as Jon Koncak , Joe Kleine , Kenny Green , and Keith Lee .
As a rookie with the Jazz , Malone learned the Mexican valium from Adrian Dantley , who was come near the ending of his career . Malone launch enough bring time to average 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds and made the All - Rookie Team . Before his second time of year , the wind deal Dantley to Detroit .
In his third season , Malone average 27.7 point and 12.0 rebound per biz , making him the only NBA instrumentalist in the top five in both categories . In three brusque age , he had go from a just - happy - to - be - here rookie to an established superstar .
Malone ’s emergence co-occur with the addition of point safety gadget John Stockton to the Jazz starting lineup in 1987 . Stockton and Malone complemented one another brilliantly . While the Mailman piled up points at a approximate - book pace , Stockton became the leading assist valet in NBA history .
Malone ’s best season was 1989 - 90 , when he scored a career - high 31.0 point in time per game , finishing 2d toMichael Jordanin the NBA marking race . commence in 1988 - 89 , Malone was named first - squad All - NBA 11 consecutive season .
At the 1993 All - Star Game before hometown fans inSalt Lake City , Malone ( 28 points ) and Stockton ( 15 assists ) shared the MVP Award . Yet despite the mien of Malone and Stockton , the wind suffered numerous disappointments in the playoffs , never once winning an NBA title .
After trading his Jazz dud for the majestic - and - atomic number 79 of theLos AngelesLakers , Malone recreate one more time of year and bed in 2004 . He holds the career record for most free throws attempted and made , as well as justificatory rebounds . His 36,928 points are second only toKareem Abdul - Jabbaron the career list .
