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 Malone |
The Mailman recently reached territory uncharted in NBA history, passing Moses Malone's all-time career record of 8,531 free throws made. It has been a year of milestones for Malone, who, on November 16, played in his 1,200th career game and, on Nov. 10, played his 45,000 minute of his career. On Nov. 28, the Mailman attempted the 22,000 field goal attempt of his career, and on Dec. 5 passed Wilt Chamberlain for second place all-time on the NBA scoring list. And that was only the beginning. Add blocking his 1,000th shot on Dec. 23; passing Robert Parish for fifth place all-time on the NBA minutes played list; recording the 32,000th point of his career on Jan. 30; grabbing the 13,000th rebound of his career on Feb. 1; and, most recently, passing Paul Silas for 10th place all-time on the NBA games played list on March 16.
Malone has participated in 13 All-Star Games during his career and was voted as a starter eight times. He is also a two-time Olympic Gold medal-winner as a member of the 1992 "Dream Team" in Barcelona and the 1996 U.S. team in Atlanta. Malone has only missed seven games in his NBA career, three due to injury and four due to league suspension.
Karl and his wife Kay are the parents of four children, Kadee, Kylee, Karlee and Karl Jr. and make their home in Salt Lake City.
Rad what Karl had to say!
steve-philippines at 6:03 p.m. ET
Hello, Karl! Been a huge fan of yours all my life. How long do you plan to play and do you, John (Stockton) and Jerry (Sloan) plan to hang it up together?
Karl Malone at 6:07 p.m. ET
I have two more years on my contract and I'd like to honor that. And even if I play an extra year after that, I'd be 40 years old. I can't speak for coach and John, so we'll just have to wait and see.
UtJazzLady32 at 6:04 p.m. ET
Congratulations on all of your accomplishments! You have so many. What, besides a title do you hope to accomplish with the NBA?
Karl Malone at 6:05 p.m. ET
Hopefully, what I'd like to accomplish is leave it a bit better than I found it. Try and tell guys to be proud of the NBA, and as I get closer to retirement, that's something I think about a lot more. Other than that, it's just playing the game and trying to improve night in and night out. That's pretty much what I want to accomplish.
Kevin@4Life at 6:05 p.m. ET
Karl, Is home-court advantage really that important for the Jazz to win the Finals? It seems like the third seed might be a better path with the teams that you would play. You've also seemed to have been a much better team on the road this year. Go Jazz!
Karl Malone at 6:05 p.m. ET
I think the home-court advantage is important, but I also think when playoffs start, it's who's playing best. It matters, but when that time comes, it's whoever's playing the best.
Ivo Borremans at 6:06 p.m. ET
Are there other sports you enjoy?
Karl Malone at 6:06 p.m. ET
Yes, I love boxing, football, baseball. My kid's into swimming, though I'm not a big water kind of guy.
Cindy S at 6:06 p.m. ET
Will you make Utah your home after you hang up the sneakers or move to Arkansas?
Karl Malone at 6:07 p.m. ET
I think that I'll be living in Utah, but I have some businesses back home as well, so I'll be going back and forth.
WyleyTowerRocketsRedhead at 6:07 p.m. ET
It seems a lot of people think you are the same way off the court as you are on. Is there anything in particular you wish people would understand about Karl Malone the man, not the player?
Karl Malone at 6:07 p.m. ET
Karl Malone the player is what I do for a living. When I'm on the court, I play to compete. Away from the game, I have a life like anyone else, and if a person chooses to judge me by what they see on the court as opposed to the interviews I do, that's their problem, not mine. You're not going to make everybody happy, so it doesn't bother me that much.
Mohammed at 6:08 p.m. ET
You know that the competition in the West right now is tough! What are your strategies to enable the Jazz to rise in the West?
Karl Malone at 6:07 p.m. ET
I think that it'll be tough on anyone in the West. If we can continue to play Jazz basketball and make teams play us, we'll be fine. We believe in what we're doing, and we'll be fine.
Jared at 6:09 p.m. ET
You've been singulary dominant at the power forward position for so long, and we're fortunate as fans to continue to be able to see you perform at a high level. Since eventually we're going to lose you (may the day never come!) could you talk about some of the younger players in the league who you think will represent well the position that you have defined?
Karl Malone at 6:07 p.m. ET
I think you got a number of guys. I don't consider myself one of the most flashy -- I've just been able to stay healthy and stay consistent. You never know. Karl Malone could soon be forgotten because these other guys play a different style. The power forwards now are doing more than I did when I first started playing the position. But you're right, I can't play forever. I just hope people have enjoyed what I've brought to the game.
Debbie at 6:11 p.m. ET
I am a 40-year-old mom of four boys, and I live in Southern Utah. I want to take this opportunity to tell you what a great player I think you are, and how much I enjoy watching you and the Jazz play basketball. I know we have lost the last couple of games, but we are going to come out and win against San Antonio tomorrow night! The commentators of the Houston game last night were talking about your beard and the wagers going on. Are you going to keep it for the playoffs?
Karl Malone at 6:12 p.m. ET
Actually, I don't have to keep it for the playoffs. It started as a small wager we do from time to time. I don't plan on having it for the playoffs -- the last day that I can cut it is the Clipper game at home right before we go to Phoenix, so I'll probably shave it then. And it depends on how I'm playing too -- I'm a little superstitious.
Chris Bok at 6:12 p.m. ET
What is it like to be an Olympic gold medalist?
Karl Malone at 6:13 p.m. ET
It was an opportunity to serve my country and just a great experience for me. It was a highlight, and whenever I look at the gold medal and the posters, I just smile.
Ashaki at 6:14 p.m. ET
Karl, what did you do differently to gain so much mass? You are a completely better player than when you entered the league. In the last six years, you have been so dominant, as far as to be called the greatest power forward in the league. Is it the cutting back of fatty foods and candy? Has your diet changed? What kinds of food do you eat on a regular basis?
Karl Malone at 6:15 p.m. ET
I'm not a big diet freak -- I'll be the first to say that. But I love to train. I really got away from machines -- I do a lot of free weights, and that's where I've gotten my mass from. I do a lot of cardio too. But my diet is probably terrible.
jason at 6:15 p.m. ET
What will get the Jazz further than the second round in the playoffs this year?
Karl Malone at 6:19 p.m. ET
First, we have to get through the first round. Hopefully we'll stay healthy. And we just need to believe in each other. We just have to go out and execute our game and we'll be just fine.
Turkey at 6:16 p.m. ET
Which player do you think is hard to defend for you?
Karl Malone at 6:17 p.m. ET
It's just like going into war -- I'm not going to say who's hardest. I'll just say all of them. I wouldn't want to say someone's name and then have him go out and score 50 on me. I'm not telling!
Nic Stoterau at 6:18 p.m. ET
Are you following the Final Four? And if you are who do you think will win?
Karl Malone at 6:19 p.m. ET
I'm not a Grinch, but I'm not following the Final Four. No disrespect to the guys, but I was watching the women's because my daughter (Cheryl Ford, Louisiana Tech) was in it. Once they lost, I didn't watch anymore.
Gustavo Camacho at 6:19 p.m. ET
Hey there, Karl ... do you guys think that Miami is a threat, now that Alonzo (Mourning) is back?
Karl Malone at 6:19 p.m. ET
I thought Miami was a threat before, so of course. You add Alonzo to the mix ,and of course they are.
sher at 6:19 p.m. ET
Hi Karl, what do you say to yourself when you are shooting from the free throw line?
Karl Malone at 6:19 p.m. ET
Different things. Sometimes you don't want to know. Let's just leave it at that. Sometimes you would want to know, and sometimes you don't.
Jeannine at 6:20 p.m. ET
Do you have any routines that get you focused before a game?
Karl Malone at 6:19 p.m. ET
Oh, yeah. I have to have my four bananas cut up with peach yogurt. I have to take a shower before the game and I have to take a nap. Those are my superstitions or routines or whatever you want to call them.
Todd-Idaho at 6:20 p.m. ET
Karl, do you think your chances of winning a championship have improved now that you have another big scorer with Donyell Marshall? And which teams do you fear the most come playoff time?
Karl Malone at 6:21 p.m. ET
I don't fear any teams when the playoffs come. Of course I get nervous, but that's a good thing.
I think that we've definitely improved our chances with Donyell, but we still have to go out there and do it. Having him as another low-post scorer has helped me out tremendously.
Shahed at 6:22 p.m. ET
Do you plan on becoming a coach after you retire?
Karl Malone at 6:22 p.m. ET
I used to say absolutely not, then I said I will, then I said maybe. I don't know where I'm at today. I don't know. It'd just have to be the perfect situation. I'm not going to rule anything out.
Jessica at 6:22 p.m. ET
Do you think it would help you guys in the playoffs if they brought Jeff Hornacek back?
Karl Malone at 6:23 p.m. ET
Everybody has their own opinion, but what if Jeff doesn't want to play? Honestly, I think that if Jeff still really wanted to, or his body would allow him to play, he still would be.
Dylan at 6:23 p.m. ET
Karl what exactly is the tattoo on your calf?
Karl Malone at 6:24 p.m. ET
It's actually a buffalo skull with feathers and kind of a warpaint kind of thing in the middle. It needs color, but it hurt so much that I haven't gone back to get more.
Brigham at 6:25 p.m. ET
Who do you think the hardest opponent will be for the Jazz to face in the playoffs?
Karl Malone at 6:26 p.m. ET
Everybody. I should be a politician, huh? I think everybody on any given night can beat you, so I don't think it'll be a particular person. Everyone will be tough.
travis at 6:26 p.m. ET
Do you miss playing agianst your buddy Barkley and Jordan, and do you keep in touch with them anymore?
Karl Malone at 6:26 p.m. ET
Every now and then I talk to Charles. Jordan, I don't talk to him that much. I doubt I'm going to play for Washington, and I don't golf, so that takes me out of the equation.
JazzFn at 6:27 p.m. ET
Karl, you're one of my personal heroes. Do you have any advice for any of the younger people that watch you on the court?
Karl Malone at 6:27 p.m. ET
No, just try to leave it all out on the floor and play as hard as you can. When you walk off the court, you want to walk off as a thoroughbred. Just give it what you got when you're out there. And remember that it's just a game, try to put it in perspective and go home.
Brandon Bates at 6:27 p.m. ET
What has it felt like to have had the opportunity to play your entire NBA career with John Stockton, and how has playing with him helped you?
Karl Malone at 6:21 p.m. ET
I think it helped me a lot knowing I had a guy that would suit up and play every night, give it everything he's got. I think he made my career easier as a player.
P.A. at 6:28 p.m. ET
Have you always been a good passer, or is that a part of your game that you've had to work at? Your shooting and rebounding abilities get a lot of attention (deservedly), but the assists often seem to get overlooked. Thanks for all the fun!
Karl Malone at 6:29 p.m. ET
I just didn't want to be known as a one-dimensional player. To me, a pass is like two points; do it the simple old-fashioned way and go about your business. It's true, my passing is overlooked, along with my defense. Those are things I pride myself on.
Candy at 6:29 p.m. ET
Hi Karl! When you decide to retire from the NBA, what will be the biggest thing you will miss?
Karl Malone at 6:29 p.m. ET
The biggest thing I'll miss will be on the bus, in the plane and in the locker room with my teammates. Over everything. I'll look at the clock and know where my ex-teammates are at every part of the day. That's what I'll miss. We're really close. Probably more so this year than ever before.
Ahmed at 6:30 p.m. ET
How do you feel that NBA has changed since you were drafted and do you think that the changes are for the better?
Karl Malone at 6:29 p.m. ET
It's hard to argue they're for the better when every arena used to be sold out and now they're not. Obviously, if you look at the number of people in the stands ... it's hard to say they're good.
Sharon at 6:31 p.m. ET
Karl,
What do you usually do when you have free time?
Karl Malone at 6:31 p.m. ET
I just like to kick back, and really and truly, I don't like to tell people what I do, because then it won't be free time.
Karlos at 6:33 p.m. ET
As a guy with over 12,000 rebounds, what are the keys to successful rebounding?
Karl Malone at 6:31 p.m. ET
You have to want to rebound. It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.
J at 6:33 p.m. ET
Yo Karl,
Do you think the NBA should allow zone defenses?
Karl Malone at 6:34 p.m. ET
I don't know. Whatever any team decides to do, I'll just try to deal with it and go on.
Dylan at 6:34 p.m. ET
Karl, Who was your favorite player growing up?
Karl Malone at 6:34 p.m. ET
I'd have to say Julius Earving.
Pat, Paul and Bob at 6:35 p.m. ET
Karl, a few players have gone on to successful movie careers. If the opportunity presented itself would you give it a try?
Karl Malone at 6:36 p.m. ET
Without a doubt, but it'd have to be an action-packed kind of movie. It couldn't be like "Romancing the Stone" or something like that. It'd have to be like an unbelievable green beret rescue action hero -- you know, something like that.
Adrienne at 6:36 p.m. ET
Karl, being that you are one of the greatest all-time players, what part of your game would you like to improve?
Karl Malone at 6:36 p.m. ET
I would like to improve my defense. I'd like to be more consistent on defense.
Justine at 6:38 p.m. ET
How long have people been calling you "The Mailman"? If you could pick any nickname for yourself, what would it be?
Karl Malone at 6:36 p.m. ET
I would say "Daddy," because I have kids.
Dudeman at 6:39 p.m. ET
Karl, who's the funniest guy on the team?
Karl Malone at 6:40 p.m. ET
It has to be John Starks. That is the funniest guy on our team. He just says stuff all the time to make us laugh -- we're always waiting on him to say stuff because it's always so funny.
Mike M at 6:42 p.m. ET
Speaking on being politically correct, is there any chance you would run for a political office?
Karl Malone at 6:43 p.m. ET
I'm not shutting the door. I need to leave my options open -- I'll never say never. And it'd have to be the perfect thing, like governor or something. We'll just wait and see.
Brandon Bates at 6:44 p.m. ET
If you do not have the scoring title by the end of your current contract, will you sign another contract and try to break the record for all-time points?
Karl Malone at 6:44 p.m. ET
If I'm still competitive and if the team's competitive, it's definitely an option, but we'll just wait and see.
Karl Malone at 6:44 p.m. ET
I'd just like to say to all the fans, thanks for the support and I'll just keep on trying to do what I do. Thanks for supporting Karl Malone, the Jazz and the NBA.
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