Karl Malone

See also: Malone

Karl Malone (born the July 24th 1963 in Summerfield, in Louisiana) is a player of Basket-ball, considered as one of the best strong wingers of the history of NBA.

Malone is selected in 13th position of the draft 1985 by the Utah Jazz, it will become, in 18 seasons passed to the club, one of the players emblematic of the frankness with his accomplice John Stockton, reaching finales NBA twice, in 1997 and 1998, vis-a-vis the Chicago bulldozers of Michael Jordan. He is elected MVP in 1997 and 1999. Its title of MVP in 1997 gave place to a small polemic, some claim that the journalists voters decreed to him the title more in homage to its career (like Charles Barkley in 1993), instead of voting for the player more deserving season (in fact Michael Jordan, which was the best player of the best team)

With John Stockton, and under the aegis of the trainer Jerry Sloan, Malone institutionalizes the “ pick' N roll ” (" screen on carrier of ball, then opening of écran"). The complicity of the duet is without faults, they are both members of the original Dream TEAM which crushes competition with the Olympic Games of 1992, and are elected Co-MVP of the All-Star Range 1993 with Salt Lake City. But the absence of depth of the bench of the Jazz is fatal with the team during the playoffs.

Malone is famous for its style of muscular play, it is with Shaquille O'Neal one of the most powerful players of the league. During its 18 seasons with Utah, it misses only 9 matches over 1434, generally on suspension.

At the end of the season 2002-03, Malone, at the end of its contract, does not manage to find an agreement of prolongation with the owner of the Jazz. The retirement of John Stockton helping, Malone decides to leave Utah to join the Los Angeles Lakers of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, for the minimum wage, in order to obtain the title which he covets so much. So during the regular season alchemy takes badly between the stars (Malone, moreover, is wounded with the knee), Lakers reach nevertheless finales NBA. Given archi-favorites vis-a-vis the Strait Pistons, Lakers lose all the same in 5 matches, without Malone, wounded as of the second match of the finales.

Disappointed, Malone decides to make a pause, and does not sign for any team at the beginning of the season 2004-05. He affirms in the media to wait until December to make a choice between the retirement and a last (half) season. Although courted by the applicants with the title (Spurs, Lakers, Heat), Malone decides to take its retirement the February 13rd 2005.

Even if it forever be champion NBA, it were selected in 1996 among the 50 best players of the history of the league. Its statisques averages in career are of 25,4 points and 10,1 rebounds per match. Its record in career was of 61 points (the January 27th 1990 against the Milwaukee Bucks).

Its shirt carrying number 32 was withdrawn by the Jazz on March 23rd, 2006. It is called " Mailman"

Successive clubs

1985 - 2003:
2003 - 2004:

Titles

Appointed better player (MVP) of NBA twice in 1997 and 1999.
Only player of the history of the NBA to be named 11 times “AlNBA first TEAM” (1989-1999).
Olympic Double champion in 1992 with Barcelona and 1996 with Atlanta.
Three times named in best the five defensive one of NBA (1997-1999).
Second better marker (36928) of the history of the NBA (behind Kareem Abdul-Jabaar 38387)
14 times selected at NBA All-Star Range (he played only 12 of them)
Meilleur player (MVP) of the AlStar Range 1993 (with John Stockton)
13th choice of the draft 1985.
historical Recordman of Utah Jazz to the number of items (36377), rebounds (14601), played minutes (53749), tried baskets (25810), successful baskets (9622), tried charity tosses (12965) and successful charity tosses (9622).
Three times finalist of championship NBA against the Chicago bulldozers in 1997 and 1998, and against the Strait Pistons, in 2004.
Its records in career: 61 offensive points, 11 rebounds, 18 defensive, 23 rebounds, 10 assists, 7 interceptions, 5 blocks and 57 minutes played.

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