Just how good was Karl Malone?

[BigKAT]

Where do you guys have him in your all time list?
Anyone here who got to watch him consistently?

Really wondering about that guy, seen some of his stats and they were crazy good. Two time MVP and what not. But still, nothing beats the eye test.

Any 90's fans who care to enlighten?

[Nilocon165]

Pretty damn good.

https://youtu.be/cgfwpQMslp8
This is a really underrated performance. 39 points to keep the Jazz season alive in Chicago including some clutch shots down the stretch.

He also averaged 30 ppg and 11 rpg in the final 3 games of that series.

[BigKAT]

Pretty damn good.

https://youtu.be/cgfwpQMslp8
This is a really underrated performance. 39 points to keep the Jazz season alive in Chicago including some clutch shots down the stretch.

He also averaged 30 ppg and 11 rpg in the final 3 games of that series.

Damn.
That is a nice jump shot for a big guy.
That Mid-range shot really thrived in the 90s huh?

Thanks for the link my friend.

[Round Mound]

A Top 5 PF of All Time

One of the strongest players ever
One of the best shooting big men of all time.
Good rebounder
Became Good passer
Solid defensively

Probably the GOAT Catch and Finish Player in Fast Break Situations (Sampson and Worthy are up there too)

[-23-]

A dirty player who also is a child molestor. Terrible character on and off the court.

[FreezingTsmoove]

He was so good back in the 90s, OP would have made a thread wishing an acl injury on him

[BigKAT]

A Top 5 PF of All Time

One of the strongest players ever
One of the best shooting big men of all time.
Good rebounder
Became Good passer
Solid defensively

Probably the GOAT Catch and Finish Player in Fast Break Situations (Sampson and Worthy are up there too)


Top 5 PF all time?
Interesting. Still, where would you put him in your All Time list? Is he a top 15? Oddly enough I didn't see anyone give him that honor yet at least here. What is your personal opinion?

[Prime_Shaq]

He was a great and amazingly CONSISTENT player, that's probably his greatest trait. You knew exactly what you were gonna get with him every game.

[avonbarksdale]

not sure if i love your threads

can't tell if you're trolling or not

[BigKAT]

not sure if i love your threads

can't tell if you're trolling or not

Disclaimer:
This Thread is in no way related to the All time ranking of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant or to my Favorite Team the Timberwolves. This Thread only refers to the Subject mentioned in the title, Original Post and subsequent comments made by the OP.

Honest.

[j3lademaster]

Best pick and roll player and is up there with the best pf's at the mid range jumpshot. Had solid defense, was able to score consistently in the post and in his younger days a VERY underrated floor runner. Look up some 80's/ early 90's malone highlights, you're looking at a 6'9 bodybuilder run the floor like a guard. Only bigs I can think of better in the open floor were Charles Barkley and Shaq. I'd hear arguments for DRob and Anthony Davis. He's also a good passer. Maybe not on the level of a Cwebb, but the next tier down. Very complete powerforward.

The cons were Malone did have some choking moments in late playoffs, finals games (big one being him getting blindsided by MJ for the to leading to the famous 6th ring gamewinner).

[ClipperRevival]

Best pick and roll player and is up there with the best pf's at the mid range jumpshot. Had solid defense, was able to score consistently in the post and in his younger days a VERY underrated floor runner. Look up some 80's/ early 90's malone highlights, you're looking at a 6'9 bodybuilder run the floor like a guard. Only bigs I can think of better in the open floor were Charles Barkley and Shaq. I'd hear arguments for DRob and Anthony Davis. He's also a good passer. Maybe not on the level of a Cwebb, but the next tier down. Very complete powerforward.

The cons were Malone did have some choking moments in late playoffs, finals games (big one being him getting blindsided by MJ for the to leading to the famous 6th ring gamewinner).

Let's not forget game 1 of the 1997 finals. Game tied, has 2 free throws and can give his team the lead and misses both. Bulls come down on the other end and MJ hits the game winning jumper as time expires. One superstar came through, the other didn't.

But yeah, I can't think of another big who was better at the p&r than Malone, whether rolling or the pick and pop. His midrange was absolutely automatic. About as automatic as it gets. And yes, his ability to run the floor like a deer also gets overlooked. They see his body and think he's just a bruiser. WRONG! He was very athletic and mobile.

[Round Mound]

Top 5 PF all time?
Interesting. Still, where would you put him in your All Time list? Is he a top 15? Oddly enough I didn't see anyone give him that honor yet at least here. What is your personal opinion?

Only Duncan and Barkley where Better. Kevin McHale before breaking his foot has a case.

[JohnnySic]

Top 20 player all time, maybe top 15, and the goat pf since Duncan is a c.

[jbryan1984]

To me, he is the best player ever to not win a ring. 3 Finals losses. imo, the best power forward ever after Tim Duncan. Greatest Jazz player of all time. I would have him in my top 20 for sure.

[egokiller]

Where do you guys have him in your all time list?
Anyone here who got to watch him consistently?

Really wondering about that guy, seen some of his stats and they were crazy good. Two time MVP and what not. But still, nothing beats the eye test.

Any 90's fans who care to enlighten?

He was amazing. The pick and roll with Stockton was so beautiful to watch. When Karl was on the floor everyone knew he was about to deliver them the package.

MAIL MAN

[AussieSteve]

He definitely had a GOAT level career, but was not a GOAT level player IMHO.

What makes him unique is that he had like a 15 year prime and he was arguably better at 35 than he was at 25. That's amazing and definitely worth something in GOAT conversations.

In his 20s he was shear power, but almost a pure scorer. And he wasn't really a player who could create for himself or others. He benefited a lot from others (mainly Stockton) creating plays that exploited his strengths... but obviously, once he had the ball where he wanted it, he was impossible to stop. He wasn't a particularly good passer, nor was he great on the offensive boards and he was a pretty average defender.

But he developed a complete all-round game in his 30s. He had much more versatility in how he could score - he developed range in his shot and became deadly from the elbow - and he also became a better passer and a solid defender.

For me though, his only GOAT attributes were his work ethic and subsequent longevity.