Karl Malone has a case for top 10 ever and best PF ever

migya · Post #1 » by **migya** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:59 pm

Karl Malone is an alltime great and definitely a top 20 player in history, I think most definitely top 15 but he seems to never be mentioned in the top 10. Kevin Garnett, an alltime great himself, is rated highly on here, and rather justifiably, and seems to be rated ahead of Malone. Duncan is listed very often as top 10 ever and is almost unanimously rated as the best PF ever.

Karl Malone has a case for being better than both and it can be argued that he quite clearly is better than both.

The numbers are strong for Malone:
1476gms, 25pts, 51.6fg%, 74.2ft%, 10.1reb, 3.6ast, 1.4stl, 0.8blk - 19yrs, ages 22 to 40.
234.6WS, 99VORP

Kevin Garnett:
1462gms, 17.8pts, 49.7fg%, 78.9ft%, 10reb, 3.7ast, 1.3stl, 1.4blk - ages 19 to 39.
191.4WS, 96.9VORP

Tim Duncan:
1392gms, 19pts, 50.6fg%, 69.6ft%, 10.8reb, 3ast, 0.7stl, 2.2blk, ages 21 to 39.
206.4WS, 91.1VORP

Most impressive is that Garnett's best season, his mvp 2004, he averaged 24.2pts, less than Malone did for his whole career. Duncan's highest scoring season his mvp 2002, he averaged 25.5pts, half a point higher than Malone's career average.

Malone was more consistent for a longer period in his career, definitely a longer prime. He wasn't quite the defender the other two are but made multiple alldefense teams in a big man heavy era with many very good defenders.

Does Karl Malone have a real case for top 10 ever and does he have a case for best PF ever?

Wagonband · Post #2 » by **Wagonband** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:02 pm

He was definitely not on Duncan level, you can stop it right here.

He is on a KG-Dirk level imho, but given he is a scumbag i will say that no, he should be considered as a top 20 player of all time.

SUPERVILLAIN · Post #3 » by **SUPERVILLAIN** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:02 pm

NyKnicks1714 · Post #4 » by **NyKnicks1714** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:03 pm

**** Karl Malone

Tor_Raps · Post #5 » by **Tor_Raps** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:05 pm

People universally rank Duncan ahead of Malone but I'm not so sure about KG. I think that's a lot closer.

Malone was a better scorer than both but almost worse in every other facet of basketball. Both Duncan/KG were DPOY level players for their entire primes. His inability to get a title is what puts him below Duncan while I'd say it's neck and neck with KG.

Roger Murdock · Post #6 » by **Roger Murdock** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:05 pm

Hes probably a top 10 regular season player of all time

CIN-C-STAR · Post #7 » by **CIN-C-STAR** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:06 pm

He's easily one of the most underrated players on this board and in general, and maybe the most underrated, and I think it's mainly because people just dont like him cuz he was a dirty player and apparently quite the creep in his personal life.
Imo he's the 2nd best PF ever only slightly behind Timmy because of Duncan's defensive value, but even that is closer than most people recognize.

matt6715 · Post #8 » by **matt6715** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:19 pm

When you get up into that top 20 and definitely top 10 range, championships begin to matter when evaluating players. No way Malone should be considered a top 10 player without having a championship.

Post #9 » by **MoneyTalks41890** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 5:23 pm

Duncan, full stop. I'd put Dirk ahead of him too.

But he's also a predator and that does probably influence my objectivity.

Post #10 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 6:24 pm

Karl also had the benefit of playing with one of the all time great PGs of the 20th century, which certainly inflated some of his offensive stats in Utah.

Watch on YouTube

Look at this highlight reel of Malone's top plays. 90% is just him receiving a pass and finishing strong at the rim. He lacked the finesse and overall scoring prowess of Hakeem, Garnett, Dirk or Duncan. His footwork is absolutely atrocious.

At 260 pounds, he had the size and strength of a center and then expanded his mid range game out to 15 feet. Combine that with being the perfect roll man for the PnR opposite Stockton and it explains why he was so difficult to cover. Too big and strong for forwards to cover -- too quick and agile for plodding Centers.

Also, raw offensive numbers between the 3 players is a bit unfair considering the differences in eras and caliber of teammates Malone and Duncan had over KG.

KembaWalker · Post #11 » by **KembaWalker** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 6:31 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:Karl also had the benefit of playing with one of the all time great PGs of the 20th century, which certainly inflated some of his offensive stats in Utah.

Watch on YouTube

But seriously, look at this highlight reel of Malone's play. 90% is just him receiving a pass and finishing strong at the rim. He lacked the finesse and overall scoring prowess of Hakeem, Garnett, Dirk or Duncan. At 260 pounds, he had the size and strength of a center and then expanded his mid range game out to 15 feet. Combine that with being the perfect roll man for the PnR opposite Stockton and it explains why he was so difficult to cover. Too big and strong for forwards to cover -- to quick and agile for plodding Centers.

Also, raw offensive numbers between the 3 players is a bit unfair considering the differences in eras and caliber of teammates Malone and Duncan had over KG.

Malone certainly had the harder job in the P+R than Stockton. If anything he was padding Stocktons stats by being such a monster roll man and a very reliable mid range popper

JRoy · Post #12 » by **JRoy** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 6:34 pm

Great player, in the tier below TD, with other great pfs like KG.

The-Power · Post #13 » by **The-Power** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:06 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:Also, raw offensive numbers between the 3 players is a bit unfair considering the differences in eras and caliber of teammates Malone and Duncan had over KG.

OP also conveniently ignored playoffs entirely and not a word on the very considerable gap on defense (which is the end where TD and KG really shined). Just a very biased portrayal of these players.

DavidSterned · Post #14 » by **DavidSterned** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:07 pm

Malone is somewhere around 14-15. Just like he likes his women.

AleksandarN · Post #15 » by **AleksandarN** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:09 pm

He has a case for 10 years in prison.

PhilBlackson · Post #16 » by **PhilBlackson** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:13 pm

Roger Murdock wrote:Hes probably a top 10 regular season player of all time

He made, two Conference Finals, back to back Finals appearances and lost to what most people consider the GOAT and also arguably greatest team of all time?!?

He's a POS as a human being but I don't get calling him a regular season player.

kuclas · Post #17 » by **kuclas** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:15 pm

Barkley and Malone were in same era. And it’s debatable if Malone was even better than Barkley. They are very close

And Barkley is never considered a top 10 player of all time. He’s more in the top 20 range. So is Malone. Nothing to sneeze about being mentioned in the top 20 range.

Wolfgang630 · Post #18 » by **Wolfgang630** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:18 pm

Let’s never compare this trash to Duncan ever again. Ok thanks

Memories · Post #19 » by **Memories** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:20 pm

Eh, no. Sorry but no one is ever gonna put that pedophile in the best power forward conversation ever again. Especially when guys like Duncan and Dirk have titles over him.

Plus I’d rather have Barkley over him anyway.

CLosP · Post #20 » by **CLosP** » Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:24 pm

Looking at their PPG and not mentioning defense at all is not convincing enough lol. Duncan has FIVE rings and yes he was a main component in every single one don’t let the FMVPs fool you.