Post by CandyKANE on Oct 17, 2002 10:50:37 GMT -5
Credit: espn.com
Karl Malone, about to start his 18th season with the Utah Jazz, hinted strongly Wednesday that the 2002-2003 NBA season will be his last.
"I've made up my mind," Malone told USA Today in Thursday's editions of the newspaper. "I don't want to keep everybody in suspense. At the appropriate time, I'll make my announcement.
" ... I'm reluctant to back myself into a corner and say what I will or won't do right now. But with the age of my kids (Malone has four young children), with what I want out of my family, it could be my last year."
Malone said he has told only his wife and brother of his plans, which he is expected to disclose during the coming season, USA Today reported.
Malone, who turned 39 during the offseason, is in the final year of a four-year, $66.5 million deal that pays him $19 million this year. He has lived up to his nickname "The Mailman" throughout his career, with averages of 25.5 points and 10.3 rebounds over 17 seasons. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history.
As a free agent after this season, Malone could command major interest from contending teams -- and, with two more 1,800-plus point seasons, he could surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league's all-time scoring champion. Malone needs 3,680 points to reach Abdul-Jabbar's record 38,387 points.
Malone ranks among the top four all-time in eight major NBA statistical rankings. But the two-time league MVP told USA Today his decision is not about money or records or statistics.
"Everybody thinks I'm going to hold the Jazz hostage," Malone told the newspaper. "That's the last thing I want to do."
Neither Malone nor the Jazz have talked about a contract extension.
"Even if I wanted to come back," Malone told USA Today, "there's no doubt about it there'd be a payout and I'd welcome that.
"I've done things that 90 percent of the people who knew me when I started said I wouldn't do," he said. "I proved something to myself, that with hard work and some God-given ability, you can achieve a lot. I don't want a farewell tour. I just hope I gave the fans here everything I could give them.
"Now that's not a farewell speech, but ... ."
Malone reported to training camp in the best shape of his life -- his body fat was measured at 2.6 percent -- and he's missed only nine games in his career, playing in 1,353 of a possible 1,362 games.
There has been speculation that 40-year-old teammate John Stockton could be playing his final season. Stockton, who signed his second consecutive one-year contract, is in his 19th season and is the NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals. Malone and Stockton led the Jazz to back-to-back NBA Finals in 1997 and '98 but haven't made it past the first round the last two years.
San Antonio Spurs star David Robinson already has announced this will be his final season. And Michael Jordan of the Washington Wizards also could be playing his last season, meaning it's possible the NBA could lose four future Hall of Famers.
Karl Malone, about to start his 18th season with the Utah Jazz, hinted strongly Wednesday that the 2002-2003 NBA season will be his last.
"I've made up my mind," Malone told USA Today in Thursday's editions of the newspaper. "I don't want to keep everybody in suspense. At the appropriate time, I'll make my announcement.
" ... I'm reluctant to back myself into a corner and say what I will or won't do right now. But with the age of my kids (Malone has four young children), with what I want out of my family, it could be my last year."
Malone said he has told only his wife and brother of his plans, which he is expected to disclose during the coming season, USA Today reported.
Malone, who turned 39 during the offseason, is in the final year of a four-year, $66.5 million deal that pays him $19 million this year. He has lived up to his nickname "The Mailman" throughout his career, with averages of 25.5 points and 10.3 rebounds over 17 seasons. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history.
As a free agent after this season, Malone could command major interest from contending teams -- and, with two more 1,800-plus point seasons, he could surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the league's all-time scoring champion. Malone needs 3,680 points to reach Abdul-Jabbar's record 38,387 points.
Malone ranks among the top four all-time in eight major NBA statistical rankings. But the two-time league MVP told USA Today his decision is not about money or records or statistics.
"Everybody thinks I'm going to hold the Jazz hostage," Malone told the newspaper. "That's the last thing I want to do."
Neither Malone nor the Jazz have talked about a contract extension.
"Even if I wanted to come back," Malone told USA Today, "there's no doubt about it there'd be a payout and I'd welcome that.
"I've done things that 90 percent of the people who knew me when I started said I wouldn't do," he said. "I proved something to myself, that with hard work and some God-given ability, you can achieve a lot. I don't want a farewell tour. I just hope I gave the fans here everything I could give them.
"Now that's not a farewell speech, but ... ."
Malone reported to training camp in the best shape of his life -- his body fat was measured at 2.6 percent -- and he's missed only nine games in his career, playing in 1,353 of a possible 1,362 games.
There has been speculation that 40-year-old teammate John Stockton could be playing his final season. Stockton, who signed his second consecutive one-year contract, is in his 19th season and is the NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals. Malone and Stockton led the Jazz to back-to-back NBA Finals in 1997 and '98 but haven't made it past the first round the last two years.
San Antonio Spurs star David Robinson already has announced this will be his final season. And Michael Jordan of the Washington Wizards also could be playing his last season, meaning it's possible the NBA could lose four future Hall of Famers.
