Karl Malone (1963- ) was born in Summerfield, Louisiana. With his combination of strength, speed, and effective shooting, Malone ranked consistently among National Basketball Association (NBA) leaders in scoring and rebounding during the 1980s and 1990s.
At Louisiana Tech he was nicknamed the Mailman for his ability to deliver great performances under pressure. Malone was selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 1985 NBA draft and quickly established himself as one of the league's best players. For six consecutive seasons, beginning in 1987-88, he averaged at least 27 points per game and 10 rebounds per game.
Malone's baskets often resulted from passes from his teammate John Stockton, a guard who became the NBA career leader in assists in 1995. The two athletes, who began playing together in the 1985-86 season, formed one of the most consistently productive guard-forward combinations in basketball history. Malone was named the NBA's most valuable player (MVP) for the 1996-97 season after averaging 27.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. He and Stockton led the Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998, where they were bested by the Chicago Bulls both years, each time 4 games to 2.
