Karl Malone

Karl Anthony Malone (born July 24, 1963), nicknamed the "Mailman", is a former power forward who has spent much of his career and the Utah Jazz National Basketball Association (NBA). Malone spent his first 18 seasons (1985-2003) with the Jazz and the duo formed the enormously to his teammate, John Stockton. He played last season (2003-04) with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Karl Malone and Gary Payton signing with the Los Angeles Lakers

Malone grew up in rural Summerfield, Louisiana, and played college basketball at Louisiana Tech University. Three of his years through the Louisiana Tech, he helped the Bulldogs basketball team to its first NCAA tournament in 1984 and first place in the Southland Conference in 1985. Jazz drafted Malone in 1985 as the 13th overall choice in the first round.

Set on 36,298 points to take the second most career points in NBA history, and keeping a record for most free throws attempted and made. Malone is generally regarded as one of the greatest NBA power forward.  In 1997 and 1999, Malone won the NBA Most Valuable Player and he appeared in the playoffs in every season of his career, including three NBA Finals: between 1997 and 1998, with the Jazz and Lakers in 2004. At the international level, Malone competed in the U.S. national team at the Summer Olympics in 1992 and 1996, both years he won a gold medal. After retiring from the NBA, Malone joined the staff of the Louisiana Tech basketball team in 2007 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.

pictures via flickr