From 97-99', Karl Malone was 1st-team defense & 3 straight MVP (except 2nd to 98' MJ)

[3ba11]

This peak isn't far below Lebron's because Malone's losses to MJ could be considered 2 titles during this period, along with the 3 straight MVP's and 3 straight 1st-team defenses.

I've always said that Lebron is basically Malone except with a point guard skillset instead of PF - but regardless of whether Karl has a PG skillset or PF skillset, it's still just Karl Malone, aka inferior to MJ

[RachlNicholsazz]

I've always said Lebron is a slightly more athletic, better passing Karl Malone with hairplugs

[gengiskhan]

I've always said Lebron is a slightly more athletic, better passing Karl Malone with hairplugs

I always said LBJ is a slightly more athletic, better passing Dominique Wilkins with head band.

[ShawkFactory]

I've always said Lebron is a slightly more athletic, better passing Karl Malone with hairplugs

A slightly more athletic and better passing Karl Malone sounds like an incredible player lol

[ShawkFactory]

I've always said Lebron is a slightly more athletic, better passing Karl Malone with hairplugs

A slightly more athletic and better passing Karl Malone sounds like an incredible player lol

[tpols]

Didn't know Karl was 1st team All Defense. Everybody knows him for his elite scoring and rebounding but not defense.

This bolsters MJs resume.

[Carbine]

The problem with Malone is he didn't play up to his standards in the playoffs those three years. He kind of shit the bed honestly.

He shot a combined 44 percent from the field during those three playoff runs.

25 ppg in those three playoffs which was down from his 26.5 ppg regular season average on 50 percent

"Mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays"

I know he had some excellent games in the playoffs/finals but overall, this three year playoff run was not what you expect from a 2 time MVP in that span.

[ShawkFactory]

The problem with Malone is he didn't play up to his standards in the playoffs those three years. He kind of shit the bed honestly.

He shot a combined 44 percent from the field during those three playoff runs.

25 ppg in those three playoffs which was down from his 26.5 ppg regular season average on 50 percent

"Mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays"

I know he had some excellent games in the playoffs/finals but overall, this three year playoff run was not what you expect from a 2 time MVP in that span.

Yea I think due to his physicality and constant intensity he was potentially the type to dominate more in the regular season when opponent intensity wasn't the same.

[Gotterdammerung]

Yea I think due to his physicality and constant intensity he was potentially the type to dominate more in the regular season when opponent intensity wasn't the same.

That's another way of saying that Malone's game was heavily referee dependent. In the playoffs against superior defenses, Malone didn't get the same calls he normally did in the regular season. Also there were fewer cheap points on fast breaks to be had in the playoffs. And so Malone resorted to that low percentage turnaround shot in the half court.

[dankok8]

The problem with Malone is he didn't play up to his standards in the playoffs those three years. He kind of shit the bed honestly.

He shot a combined 44 percent from the field during those three playoff runs.

25 ppg in those three playoffs which was down from his 26.5 ppg regular season average on 50 percent

"Mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays"

I know he had some excellent games in the playoffs/finals but overall, this three year playoff run was not what you expect from a 2 time MVP in that span.

He faced an absolutely brutal gauntlet of defenses though.

If you look at his rTS% which is efficiency adjusted for opponent, he actually shot slightly above average while carrying a huge offensive load.

You won't find many players on 26-27 ppg shooting on very high efficiency. Those that do are all-time greats/top 10 all-timers. So it's not really that big of a knock on Malone. Especially since he was great at other facets of the game like rebounding, passing and defense.

EDIT: Those Jazz teams also had terrific team offenses despite Malone's merely ok shooting.

[90sgoat]

The problem with Malone is he didn't play up to his standards in the playoffs those three years. He kind of shit the bed honestly.

He shot a combined 44 percent from the field during those three playoff runs.

25 ppg in those three playoffs which was down from his 26.5 ppg regular season average on 50 percent

"Mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays"

I know he had some excellent games in the playoffs/finals but overall, this three year playoff run was not what you expect from a 2 time MVP in that span.

Some of that has to do with the insane defensive intensity of those seasons.

Shaq in the same years had two playoffs averaging only 51% from the field, the lowest in his career, outside his rookie season and at 37 years old.

Hakeem was old but also had some real duds, shooting sub 40% even. Kemp the same shot 47% in 98 and so on.

[Carbine]

We are talking peaks here. Hakeem actually kept his playoff efficiency to his regular season standard in his peak while also increasing the scoring load by a noticeable amount.

Jordan routinely upped his standard in the playoffs regardless of time of career.

The truly great ones do that.

Karl Malone's three year run of regular season accolades and awards would suggest he is amongst the top peaks ever but it just isn't the case when you factor in the decline in post season production. He's not alone, the vast majority of players perform worse in the playoffs.

Joel Embiid being the main guy of this era for that.

[Phoenix]

Joel Embiid being the main guy of this era for that.

I'd say he takes 2nd billing to Harden on that one.