Despite Passing Wilt, Malone Still Underrated
by Tom Rathkamp
 he ink isn’t
wet yet on the official scorer’s sheet, and already many a scribe and
broadcaster immediately began to add an asterisk (*) to Karl Malone’s
name after he moved past Wilt Chamberlain into second place on the NBA’s
all-time scoring list. The eighth point of the game the other night
against the New Jersey Nets ensured that only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stands
above Malone in this rather prestigious line.
Sadly enough, however, scoring 31, 443 points isn’t enough to douse
those pens and mikes that have been placing asterisks next to Malone for
an entire career. Many will continue to blabber about Malone’s penchant
for whining, his failure, thus far, to win an NBA title, and (the silliest
of all), his relative seclusion playing in Salt Lake City (Sidebar:
It continually cracks me up when writers/broadcasters blame Malone’s
lack of exposure when they themselves are the chief expose-ers).
What most fail to emphasize is Malone’s skill as a player, and, more
importantly, his tireless dedication to staying in the best possible
physical and mental condition. The result? Only seven missed games in 15+
years, with only three resulting from injury (the other four to
suspensions). Seven games! In an increasingly physical sport, that number
is staggering.
There are those who will say (with a sneer & a snicker) that longevity
is the reason Malone was able to leap frog over the likes of Michael
Jordan in the all-time scoring list. Well, what’s wrong with longevity?
For some, it’s a negative benchmark. I tend to disagree.
Most athletes in most sports begin a steady decline when they get into
their 30’s, some even earlier. A basketball player might hang around and
get overpaid for riding the pine on a sub-.400 team or ride the coattails
of a super team in hopes of capturing a championship. A washed-up
outfielder might find employment as a pinch hitter, which might extend his
career by 2-5 years.
What’s impressive about Malone is that he shows no obvious sign of
decline. He is 37 years old and still plays with the hustle and passion of
a 22-year old (when he was 22, not the 22-year olds of today). His
scoring average is down a bit, near 23 per game. But so are his shots. He
and long-time teammate, and fellow future hall of famer, John Stockton,
continue to display their impeccable execution – all in the face of
younger, brasher players and media types who will never afford them the
credit they deserve.
Leigh Montville of cnnsi.com, in his Viewpoint column
this week, criticized Malone for being a boring player. What’s
boring about a man who averages well over 20 points a game, grabs over 10
boards a game, and displays more grit and determination than the entire US
Olympic Basketball Team in Sydney?
What’s satisfying to this writer, and fan, is watching Malone
out-hustle, out-play, and out-work his normally younger opponents. I will
attest to some bias, as I myself am a 38-year old man who plays hoops
against much younger competition. At any rate, you can excuse the younger
player for falling short in the skill and experience department, but to be
out-hustled? Inexcusable at best.
For those who either don’t know, or refuse to know, Karl Malone the
player, allow me to help. Malone came out of Louisiana Tech University
some 16 years ago with mostly power credentials, as most power forwards of
that era held. He soon developed an reasonable consistent outside shot,
and also learned the value of staying in the best possible physical
condition.
I emphasize these aspects because those players who fail to get better
or reach their potential, are lacking in exactly these two attributes: the
willingness to improve and the physical dedication to catalyze that
improvement over the long haul. Karl Malone is a power forward who glides
down the court like a small forward. Most players nowadays who are about
his size will never learn how to play the game when they’re not facing
the basket. When most power players today find their outside game, they
stay outside. Malone is above-average as a post player and spot-up
shooter.
Can Malone surpass Abdul-Jabbar? He would have to average approximately
23 ppg for four more seasons. We all know that’s not likely, but it’s
a bit more probable for player like Malone. He, like Barkley and Jordan
and most others of their era, has been critical of the younger players.
Whether that criticism is entirely valid or not, they would not be shamed
if they sat down and watched reel after reel of Karl Malone game film.
Young guards have longed to be "Like Mike," emulating His
Airness himself. Well, young forwards joining the newest crop would be
well served to be "Like Karl."
Sporting Briefs …
. . . Regular readers of mine have discovered that I too have a
suspicion of the young, greedy, egotistical NBA player. But allow me to be
fair and give "mad shouts" to a few I truly admire: Jermaine O’Neal,
Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis, and several others. These guys
will be great. I only hope that their passion and talents will sustain
them well into their 30’s. It’s fairly likely that money and other
distractions will be their prime roadblocks.
. . . I’m not normally in favor of players lashing out at owners.
But QB Brad Johnson’s recent jabs at pathetic Washington
Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder gave me – I dare say – instant
gratification. Snyder is just another in a long-line of meddling,
control-freak owners who don’t know squat about the game in which they’ve
become involved. I know he might not feel this way, but if I were ousted
coach Norv Turner, I’d be feeling pretty relieved right now.
Any comments, criticisms, or condemnations on
this sports column or previous ones? Feel free to email me at andydan@milwpc.com
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