Who was stronger--Ben Wallace or Karl Malone?

[sportjames23]

Who you got?

[smoovegittar]

Malone without a shred of a doubt. :bowdown:

[Rake2204]

I think Karl Malone was on another level. Yes, he was committed to basketball, but he sometimes almost seemed more committed to lifting and working out (which only helped him become a better basketball player). I feel as though I read he was a mountain biker as well (my memory says he'd go for 30-to-50 mile rides). He took pride in putting in a ton of work and seeing the results.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1102/muscles/images/karl-malone.jpg

[KobesFinger]

Lifting weights or on the court?

[sportjames23]

Lifting weights or on the court?

Both.

[KobesFinger]

Both.

Its a toughie, I think in the gym Karl Malone but on the court I'm inclined to say Ben Wallace because he played C but was the same size. He'd match up with Shaq, Mutombo, Jermaine O'Neal, Zo etc. who were all bigger than him but he'd hold his own

[T_L_P]

I guess Malone's strength on the court is clouded a bit because he didn't have a power game (80s and a lot of the 90s, at least). Half his buckets were pick and roll, then the rest were mid-range shots and pretty typical post plays. He didn't body up like his size allowed him too either.

Meanwhile Wallace played some of the most aggressive defense I've ever seen.

[ArbitraryWater]

Wallace IMO

[Hoopz2332]

Ben Wallace easy

[sundizz]

For someone of Malone's physical tools - he played a pretty damn finesse game, especially on defense. He stripped the ball a lot more than he would go for a block or try to body up a guy chest to chest.

Ben Wallace seemed to use his strength better. Malone just had significantly superior basketball skills of course.

6'10, 270 with 4.5% bf (Karl Malone)
6'9, 240 could bench 460 (Ben Wallace)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vbowV5xeDEY/UIGkh2_DVZI/AAAAAAAAMr8/dTIfqXUOInI/s1600/Karl-Malone.jpg
http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee350/Jarg007/ben_wallace_2.jpg
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jMjrgDvjZHA/RtzNoWWcEiI/AAAAAAAAAzk/G1W4fvoKKr4/Graham.jpg
http://famouslefties.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/David-Robinson.jpg

also...Shaq was a monster. He is so much bigger as a human than monstrous Dwight Howard...

http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Shaquille+O+Neal+Dwight+Howard+Orlando+Magic+2Ioq9 1Vcpp8l.jpg

[Psileas]

I guess Malone's strength on the court is clouded a bit because he didn't have a power game (80s and a lot of the 90s, at least). Half his buckets were pick and roll, then the rest were mid-range shots and pretty typical post plays. He didn't body up like his size allowed him too either.

Plus, his frequent swings and kicks when he was driving, mainly to draw fouls, also seemed to cloak his strength. You normally don't expect from such a strong player to be that reactive in this situation.

[Nowitness]

its a shame k. malone was such a choker. he had all the gifts. just wasnt mentally strong and he didnt get the game.

[Rake2204]

Its a toughie, I think in the gym Karl Malone but on the court I'm inclined to say Ben Wallace because he played C but was the same size. He'd match up with Shaq, Mutombo, Jermaine O'Neal, Zo etc. who were all bigger than him but he'd hold his ownI think Wallace competed admirably, but I wonder if Malone's defensive success against O'Neal may have rivaled Wallace's. Shaq was huge, and he was often a little too much for Ben to handle, particularly in single coverage (though again, the same could be said for most of whom defended Shaq).

[SugarHill]

its a shame k. malone was such a choker. he had all the gifts. just wasnt mentally strong and he didnt get the game.

For someone who didn't get the game, he sure had a long and productive career filled with accolades...

:coleman:

[La Frescobaldi]

I think Wallace competed admirably, but I wonder if Malone's defensive success against O'Neal may have rivaled Wallace's. Shaq was huge, and he was often a little too much for Ben to handle, particularly in single coverage (though again, the same could be said for most of whom defended Shaq).
????? like there was somebody who could handle that behemoth

[Nikola_]

http://ballislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Shaquille+O+Neal+Dwight+Howard+Orlando+Magic+2Ioq9 1Vcpp8l.jpg

:biggums:

[Rake2204]

????? like there was somebody who could handle that behemothRight, that was kind of my point. The feller I quoted said Ben Wallace matched up with Shaquille O'Neal, thus giving him a strength edge over Malone. I was merely saying I'm not sure what Ben did to Shaq that Karl couldn't, for Shaq kind of went to work on Wallace - like he did on everyone.

[Pointguard]

I don't know where all of this Malone wasn't physical on the court is coming from. I honestly can only think of one player that was a bigger bully on the court and that was Shaq. Especially in the deep post. Malone didn't do great moves he just powered himself in. He was called the power in power forward. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VzlQLbXz7I

In the gym Malone would beat Wallace with the weights because he loved doing weights and got great results. In a fight Wallace wins because he was a trained boxer. So be it, if it got to wrestling Malone was a lot bigger. On the court Malone used his weight as good as anybody because he was skilled to go along with it.

Anybody remember when Chambers punched Malone in the face and that was the only event of the fight, outside of Malone not breaking stride. And its the only time when you felt the guy who got punched in the face won. Malone was a brick wall.

[Harison]

I don't know where all of this Malone wasn't physical on the court is coming from. I honestly can only think of one player that was a bigger bully on the court and that was Shaq. Especially in the deep post. Malone didn't do great moves he just powered himself in. He was called the power in power forward. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VzlQLbXz7I

In the gym Malone would beat Wallace with the weights because he loved doing weights and got great results. In a fight Wallace wins because he was a trained boxer. So be it, if it got to wrestling Malone was a lot bigger. On the court Malone used his weight as good as anybody because he was skilled to go along with it.

Anybody remember when Chambers punched Malone in the face and that was the only event of the fight, outside of Malone not breaking stride. And its the only time when you felt the guy who got punched in the face won. Malone was a brick wall.

This. Malone was like a train, believe me - you didnt want to be in his way to the basket.

Also having strength doesnt mean you have to power-through every basket, even Shaq not always did, and Diezel wasnt half as versatile as Malone.

[Rake2204]

I don't know where all of this Malone wasn't physical on the court is coming from. I honestly can only think of one player that was a bigger bully on the court and that was Shaq. Especially in the deep post. Malone didn't do great moves he just powered himself in. He was called the power in power forward. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VzlQLbXz7IGood call. I think he sort of had a second peak with his team's finals appearances in the late 90's. He was 33 when he won his first MVP award and he played a little differently at that point. His athleticism had dwindled a touch and strong finesse began taking over a little more (bullying folks then finishing with good layups or reliable jumpers).

Younger Malone, the one whose teams did not reach the Finals, brought the pain in all facets. Still bully strong, but could also jump through people and explode. I think that Malone, the athletic prime version, sometimes gets remembered second due to his latter career success. He was always strong, but there were more visible reminders of his strength during the old Jazz logo era.

[inclinerator]

me

[KobesFinger]

Right, that was kind of my point. The feller I quoted said Ben Wallace matched up with Shaquille O'Neal, thus giving him a strength edge over Malone. I was merely saying I'm not sure what Ben did to Shaq that Karl couldn't, for Shaq kind of went to work on Wallace - like he did on everyone.

My point was that Wallace faced opponents who were bigger than him more often and held his own. Then theres the shove on Artest that sent him flying

[sportjames23]

My point was that Wallace faced opponents who were bigger than him more often and held his own. Then theres the shove on Artest that sent him flying

True. Malone did knock out David Robinson and Shawn Kemp, tho.

[Rake2204]

My point was that Wallace faced opponents who were bigger than him more often and held his own. Then theres the shove on Artest that sent him flyingI think Ben's length and athleticism helped him hang with bigger fellows in addition to his strength. I believe Malone could have similarly banged with players that size, but his leaping ability and length may have left him at a disadvantage, not a lack of strength.

[oarabbus]

I think Karl Malone was on another level. Yes, he was committed to basketball, but he sometimes almost seemed more committed to lifting and working out (which only helped him become a better basketball player). I feel as though I read he was a mountain biker as well (my memory says he'd go for 30-to-50 mile rides). He took pride in putting in a ton of work and seeing the results.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1102/muscles/images/karl-malone.jpg

So would you put down Malone as the strongest NBA player of all time?

We all know Wilt used to deadlift pickup trucks and could clean and jerk a pregnant rhinocerous, so we'll exclude him from this discussion.

[Smoke117]

This. Malone was like a train, believe me - you didnt want to be in his way to the basket.

Also having strength doesnt mean you have to power-through every basket, even Shaq not always did, and Diezel wasnt half as versatile as Malone.

Taking a charge from this freight train is how Pippen ****ed up his back in the 98 finals.