With the 2023 NBA offseason here in full swing, a fair amount of attention tends to turn toward the history of the league in the absence of new deeds to analyze on the court or in roster construction. And in the wake of Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving putting out an all-time list of NBA greats, others have started to do the same.
Among them are former Boston Celtics championship forward and current broadcaster Cedric Maxwell broke down his list compared to Dr. J’s on his eponymous CLNS Media podcast with cohost Josue Pavon. The names on Erving’s list are Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor along with more modern era players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Karl Malone.
To hear who Maxwell put on his all-time great list, check out the clip embedded below.
When he’s healthy, Los Angeles Lakers superstar big man Anthony Davis is one of the NBA’s very best players. But he is also one of its unique players.
At 6-foot-10, he has the type of guard skills rarely seen in a player his size. But he can also bang down low like a traditional big man. And, of course, he is a beast defensively and on the boards, which Lakers opponents saw firsthand in the 2023 playoffs.
Former Lakers forward A.C. Green was asked by Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson while on “Scoop B Selects” who in his era reminded him of Davis. Green responded by comparing Davis to Dirk Nowitzki and Karl Malone.
“A.D. has a little bit of Dirk Nowitzki in him,” said Green. “He has a little bit of Karl Malone from a power standpoint at times in the paint. He plays big and dominant, but he was one of those big guys that almost was the big trend. Kevin Garnett, who can be powerful but also has that perimeter, he’s got his own little teeth in his own little niche, so you gotta like that.”
Garnett is another former big man who is at least somewhat comparable to Davis because of his all-around game, athleticism and defensive dominance. However, Davis may be a better scorer than Garnett was. Garnett never averaged 25 points a game in a season, something Davis has done five times in 11 years.
If the NBA is going to advocate for social justice, they should not align themselves with Karl Malone.
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“I hated Karl Malone so much before I had a great reason — I only had good ones.”
That was how HBO’s Bomani Jones opened his monologue about former Jazz big man Karl Malone, who was honored at this year’s NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake is where Malone played the majority of his professional career, and NBA franchises typically honor their most accomplished players when they host an All-Star Weekend.
As such, the big man was one of the judges during the dunk contest. He also received praise from LeBron James and a photo with LeBron and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This was the second year in a row that he was put under the spotlight. Last year, Malone was also honored during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game as one of the 75 greatest players of all time.
"I hated Karl Malone so much before I had a great reason, I only had good ones. Like just being a dirty player, elbowing people all the time." @bomani_jones on Karl Malone's involvement in NBA All-Star Weekend in Utah. #anyquestionpic.twitter.com/l8ZPvST6VI
Blood tests showed a 99.3 percent probability Malone was the father of Demetress Bell, per AP.
The family could have filed criminal charges against Malone for impregnating a minor because, in Louisiana, an individual could not consent to sex until the age of 17. While statutory rape could have carried a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, Malone was a “neighborhood kid”, so they didn’t press charges.
His actions are absolutely heinous and should make it hard for the NBA to look themselves in the mirror after honoring this man two years in a row. But the story doesn’t stop there for Malone and his awful shortcomings.
When the child’s grandparents filed a lawsuit in 1985 requesting $200 a week to help their daughter raise their son, Malone did not respond, despite his career earnings topping $104 million. He was ordered to pay $125 per week in child support, but he appealed, eventually reaching a settlement that did not require him to acknowledge that he was the father.
Bell, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2008 and played in the NFL until 2013, said Malone told him he would have to “make it on his own” and that it was “too late” for him to be his father. Malone didn’t have his first father-son interaction with Bell until 2014 when the former NFL lineman was already 30 years old.
These are nauseating actions, but Malone’s history of neglect didn’t just affect Bell.
Bonita Ford, who dated Malone when they were in high school, filed a paternity lawsuit against Malone in 1989 when her twins, Daryl and Cheryl, were 8 years old. Three years later, Malone was found in contempt of court after he refused to submit DNA blood tests. This case, too, was resolved out of court.
Malone first reached out to the twins in 1998 when they were touted 17-year-old basketball recruits. (Both later played at Louisiana Tech, Malone’s alma mater, and Cheryl became a three-time WNBA champion and four-time WNBA All-Star.)
When reflecting on these decisions in 2018, Malone told Deseret News that he “didn’t handle it right” and added that the responsibilities seemed “overwhelming” to him.
This weekend, Malone added more thoughts about his own reputation (via Salt Lake Tribune):
“As players, we hear what’s written about us or said about us,” Malone acknowledged.
So then, what does he think of the more negative perception of him now?
“I’m not discussing any of that backlash. I don’t care,” he said defiantly. “That’s my life, that’s my personal life, and I’ll deal with that like I’ve had to deal with everything. So, whatever.”
He’s aware of the shifting narrative, but has no thoughts about it?
“Whatever. I’m human.”
But it was not just how Malone handled his personal life off the court that is troubling.
It was also his interpersonal relationships with other NBA players — and cuts much deeper than the elbow that required Isiah Thomas to get 40 stitches.
Karl Malone wasn't alone in not wanting Magic Johnson to play in the NBA due to his HIV diagnosis in 1991.
However, he was the most ignorant and outspoken at the time. No surprises there. pic.twitter.com/lHafSsrwyI
Malone was the most outspoken player in the league about not wanting to play against his former Team USA gold medal running mate Magic Johnson after the five-time NBA champion was diagnosed with HIV.
Despite the fact players weren’t at risk of contracting the disease by simply playing on the same court, Johnson said Malone’s comments in 1992 almost prevented him from returning to the game.
Then, in 2004, per ESPN, Malone made “several inappropriate comments” to Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa. According to Malone’s agent, Dwight Manley, Malone said he was “hunting for little Mexican girls” because he was wearing a cowboy hat and cowboy boots.
Over a decade later, Malone said that Bryant had a “standing offer” to fight him if he still had an issue with what he said to Vanessa. Malone has a long history of deeply disturbing decisions like this, and they shouldn’t be ignored.
Malone should not be an ambassador for the game of basketball when he has carelessly and repeatedly hurt people in deeply impactful ways. The Jazz and the NBA should be embarrassed for trotting him out as if he deserved celebration.
“Antetokounmpo has continued to reach his apex as a player and become widely considered the best player in the NBA by so many, but James has not been quick to let that crown go.
Giannis continues to have to snatch it from him. And we’ve quite literally seen that play out on the court.
Yes, obviously, that’s what sports are. But sometimes that can bleed over into real life and strain relationships between two players. So, naturally, one might think that’s happened here with James and Antetokounmpo.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case. At least, not after what Giannis told LeBron at the start of All-Star weekend on Friday.
The Bucks’ All-Star told James he was his biggest fan and it was such a cool moment between the two.”
Team Giannis finally beat Team LeBron in the All-Star Game on Sunday.
Jamal Murray already has three times as many 30-point performances.
When you rank the best guard and big pairings in NBA history, who are the first names that come to mind?
Most basketball fans will probably list some of the greats like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bob Cousy and Bill Russell, or John Stockton and Karl Malone.
If you’re receiving comparisons to any of those legends, you’re probably doing something right.
It was obviously meant as a compliment considering Stockton and Malone are both Hall of Famers who made 24 combined All-Star appearances. Murray, however, made an important observation about the comparison.
Murray smiled and said that he didn’t think Stockton could score as well as he can for the Nuggets, and he isn’t wrong!
Nuggets coach David Adelman compared Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic to John Stockton and Karl Malone.
Stockton averaged 13.1 points per game during his career whereas Murray has eclipsed that in each of his five professional seasons as a regular starter for the Nuggets.
During the 1,504 regular-season games that he played during his career, the Jazz guard notched at least 30 points on 11 occasions. Murray, meanwhile, has played just 383 regular-season games and he has already recorded three times as many 30-point performances.
Murray, similarly, has scored 6,353 points during his NBA career thus far. After the same number of games in the NBA, Stockton had logged 3,834.
Stockton, of course, is widely considered one of the best passers and most productive playmakers in league history. Murray, however, was well within his right to note the difference in comparative scoring prowess.
LeBron James put yet another notch on his belt on Saturday when he reached a very important career milestone.
Although the Los Angeles Lakers are suffering through a miserable season, LeBron James has been having himself a tremendous year.
Coming into Saturday’s game versus the Washington Wizards, he was averaging 29.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. He has a real shot at winning the scoring title, which would be quite an accomplishment for a 37-year-old with tons of mileage like him.
Less than a week ago, he became the first player in NBA history to reach 30,000 points, 10,000 assists and 10,000 rebounds. Now, against the Wizards, James has surpassed Karl Malone to move into second place on the NBA’s career scoring list.
"I do it for my family, my friends, and my hometown…" @KingJames on what passing Karl Malone for second place in the all-time scoring list means to him. pic.twitter.com/dbgF76nA8H
He did so by scoring 38 points on 16-of-29 shooting from the field, to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists.
The big moment came with 5;20 remaining in the second quarter when he made a layup to move past the Mailman.
Unfortunately, James’ latest accomplishment was shaded by the fact that his team fell apart in the final 14 minutes or so and fell to the Wizards, 127-119.
The sad part of James’ remarkable individual season is that plenty of people may not appreciate it given how terrible the Lakers have been as a team.
The Los Angeles Lakers had 18 players, both current and former, selected to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
The 2021-22 NBA season marks the 75th anniversary of the league, which is an astonishing milestone for any league.
To celebrate, the NBA has been acknowledging legends of the game both current and former in a variety of ways.
For the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, the league named 75 of the league’s best players in batches of 25.
The Los Angeles Lakers had 18 players make the list. For a franchise with such a rich history, being one of the most represented teams on the list was expected.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone as the only players to score 35,000 points in NBA history.
With a free throw during the second quarter of Thursday night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, LeBron James became the third player in NBA history to score 35,000 points or more in his NBA career, joining Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. LeBron’s milestone was one of few highlights of the first half for the Los Angeles Lakers as the Brooklyn Nets dominated them en route to a 64-53 halftime lead. LeBron led all scorers in the first half with 17 points but it was not enough for the Lakers to keep pace with the Nets, who came into Thursday with a four-game win-streak.
James was excellent for the Lakers in the first half but the L.A. defense looked very weak against the Nets as James Harden and Kyrie Irving had their way inside the 3-point line while creating excellent looks for their teammates.
Congrats to @KingJames on becoming the 3rd player in NBA history to reach 35,000 career points, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone! pic.twitter.com/F1JnPHq5se
Brooklyn was 11 for 21 from the 3-point line in the first half and the Lakers have to slow down their offensive attack if they hope to avoid another home loss.
With no hoops on the schedule, Warriors Wire is rewinding through Golden State’s history for memorable matchups and standout performances.
With no hoops on the calendar, Warriors Wire is rewinding the tape back through Golden State’s history for memorable matchups, standout performances and everything else in between.
Early in the 1994-95 season, a budding star linked up with a proven veteran to carry Don Nelson’s group against a pair of future Hall of Famers.
November 11, 1994
Before their matchup with the Western Conference power Utah Jazz tipped off, the Warriors were understaffed. After suffering a knee injury in the offseason, Golden State was without Chris Mullin against Karl Malone and John Stockton.
However, a pair of Warriors combined for a steady performance against Utah’s pair of perennial All-Stars. Run TMC point guard Tim Hardaway tallied 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field with five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Helping with his 30-point effort, Hardaway got hot from beyond the arc, hitting 6-of-10 attempts from long distance.
Following his point guard’s lead, Latrell Sprewell notched 30 points on his own on 10-of-20 shooting from the field. Sprewell added seven rebounds, four assists and a block.
Outside of Sprewell and Hardaway, Ricky Pierce was the only other member of the Warriors to record double-figure scoring numbers against the Jazz. Pierce tacked on 21 points on 4-of-8 shooting in 29 minutes off the bench.
Despite double-doubles from both Stockton and Malone, the 60 combined points from Hardaway and Sprewell was enough to close out the Jazz, 112-104.
Sprewell’s 30 point night against the Jazz was the first of 13 games where he racked up 30 or more points. In 1994-95, Sprewell went on to represent the Warriors in the NBA All-Star Game for the second consecutive season.
After recovering from a knee injury in the previous year, Hardaway’s 1994-95 season was his final full season in Golden State before being traded to the Miami Heat at the deadline in 1996.
