‘Mailman’ More Than Lives Up to His Nickname

Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz picked up his “The Mailman” nickname in college because he delivered. He still does, and more. “He’s reached that class as a player where he won’t let you lose,” says Jazz coach Frank Layden.

“That’s a really nice statement,” Malone says. “At some time in the ballgame when we’re behind and we need a basket, I want the ball. Whether that’s selfish, I don’t like to lose.

“When I play pickup games with my nephews in the summer, I don’t like to lose.”

Playing with that attitude, the All-Star forward has scored at least 33 points his last six NBA games, complementing each performance with double-digit rebounding.

In a 112-106 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday night, Malone scored 33 points and had 20 rebounds, one shy of his career best.

But he evaluated it the same way he says he evaluates all his games. “I felt pretty good about it, but I still could’ve done better,” he said.

“I think I could have run harder, played with more pressure on defense and just played harder. But you have to take chances, and I think one of the main things is that it was a nice win for us.”

Following a trend he set in his first two seasons, Malone has improved his averages the second half of this season. At the All-Star break he was averaging 26.2 points and 11 rebounds. Now he is ranked among the NBA leaders in scoring and rebounding with averages of 27.5 points and 11.9 boards.

When the 6-foot-9, 250-pound former Louisiana Tech standout was voted a starting forward in February’s All-Star game -- his first -- he came through by leading the losing West squad with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

About three weeks ago, when he was “in a little slump,” Malone said he and reserve guard Eddie Hughes began having 3-point shooting contests after practices and before games.

“I know that when I get the ball I don’t have to force it, so my shot has been coming easier,” Malone said. “I can go from when me and Eddie are shooting 3-pointers to where in a game I’m in a nice flow.

“When you get on a roll, it seems like everything you throw up goes in. But I reflect on the easy ones I miss.”

Malone figures he will get 10 to 15 points per game just running the floor, and the rest is simply keeping alert.

“I make it a point to know my rebounds at halftime,” he says. “I think that’s a good sign from my standpoint. I can say, ‘I’ve got the points, now let me rebound,’ or, ‘I’m rebounding, so the points will come.’ I’m really conscious of what I’m doing out there.”

It also helps that point guard John Stockton is leading the NBA in assists. “I can go on and on about John,” Malone says. “If you’re open, he’s going to get you the ball.”

Malone feels he has grown into his role.

“I try to go out and first of all, let my game come to me now; it goes with maturity,” Malone says. “The second thing is, I go with the scheme of the offense. I go out with the attitude that if I play my game and let things come to me, it will be easier for me. I’m not really trying to make things happen, because if you do that, all parts of your game will suffer.

“It’s been a pressure-packed year, but it’s been a nice pressure,” Malone says. “It’s more like, ‘What’s going to happen next?’ I can’t wait to see what happens next.”