Karl Malone was one half of the dynamic duo in Salt Lake City that made the Utah Jazz championship contenders in the late 1990s. The Mailman was considered the best power forward in the game during his era. He was a two-time MVP who also made 11 All-NBA first-team and 3 All-Defensive first-team selections. Louisiana native was also a 14-time All-Star and a two-time All-Star Game MVP.
Despite his accolades, Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas believes Malone was Utah’s weakest link. And that he was the player who prevented them from winning an NBA championship.
“I thought that they had everything it took to win a championship,” said Thomas. ” I thought they had the system, I thought they had the players, the toughness, they’re defensive-minded and everything. But I always felt like Malone really was the weak link because he wasn’t a good foul shooter. Had he been a good foul shooter, they would’ve beat Chicago.”
Jazz made back-to-back Finals appearances
Malone entered the NBA via the iconic draft class that saw Michael Jordan get picked third overall by the Chicago Bulls. The Mailman first became an All-Star in 1988, and he would only get better from there…