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Karl Malone started really playing basketball
at the age of 20, which is surprising to most since he is now, one of the greatest power forwards
to every play the game of basketball. Karl grew up in a small town of a little more than
200 people. He was born in Summerfield, Louisiana. Karl Malone played college ball at
Louisiana Tech where he was just developing his true potential. His free throw percentage
was in need of improvement. After leaving Louisiana Tech Karl Malone took his chances with
the NBA and entered the 1985 NBA Draft.
NBA
Karl Malone still misjudged by most NBA scouts passed him up to the
Utah Jazz as the 13th overall pick. After a good but not great college basketball career
Karl had finally made it to the top and was not about to let down. Karl was nicknamed "The
Mailman" while he played at Louisiana Tech because he always delivers. The 15 year Utah Jazz
went from a small farm boy who knew nothing about Utah, to being the star and leader of the
team. Karl Malone has been the MVP twice in 1996-97 and 1998-99 and 14 out of his
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15 years in the NBA he has been an All-Star selection. Karl being the great power forward that he
is was named one of the "50 Greatest Players in NBA History". Karl Malone is an 11 time All-
NBA First Team selection.
The year the Jazz drafted Karl Malone they made it to the NBA playoffs for the third time in
a row but, lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Karl scored an average of 21.8
points and 7.5 rebounds in the four postseason games. During his rookie year he averaged fewer
than 20 points a game and shot less then 50 percent from the field and for the only time in his
career did not reach double digits in rebounding, averaging 8.9 rebounds a game.
Karl Malone's next season he realized the potential he had and brought his game to a whole
level. He was the leading scorer on his team 51 times and appeared in all 82 of his games,
but was denied all NBA honors. Which is surprising since he was having such a great year.
He scored a season-high of 38 points twice, against the Portland Trail Blazers on January
13 and against the SuperSonics in Seattle on February 24. After Malone had a great season
scoring in the 20's or 30's he struggled in the postseason against the Golden State Warriors
only scoring .420 from the field, getting only 20 points a game and averaging 9.6 rebounds
in the five games played. The Jazz went up two games to none on the Warriors but then lost
the next three resulting in the Jazz being knocked out the first round.
Karl Malone real super stardom happened the 1988-89 season when former teammate (Point Guard)
John Stockton joined the team. Karl
was averaging 27.7 points a game and reached a career high of 12.0 rebounds. In the league he
ranked fifth in scoring and fourth in rebounding. John Stockton wasn't actually shining until
four years after he was drafted by the Jazz. In the fourth year of his NBA career led the NBA
in assists with an average of 13.0 assists per game. Many of those assists went to the Mailman,
Karl Malone for the hammer dunk. The ultimate duo was born. John and Karl were named All-NBA
second team and the first apperaence in the all-star game. Karl again made it to the playoffs
after having a great season and playing in all 82 of the Jazz games. Once again the Jazz made
it to the playoffs with Karl's great skills and appreciation for the game averaging over 27
points a game. Blazing through the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the playoffs
the Jazz encounter the L.A Lakers. Karl really enhanced his game but only enough to take the
Lakers to a game seven where the Lakers to over winning 109-98 victory.
The next season the Jazz coach Frank Layden continued up as the team president and the
assistant coach Jerry Sloan took over as the head coach of the Jazz 17 games into the season.
Once again Karl and John Stockton
led the Jazz to the Playoffs but lost to the Golden State Warriors. Karl earned MVP honors in
the 1989 All-Star game in houston and once again scored another season high this time against
the Philedelpia 76ers scoring 44 points.
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