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“I hated Karl Malone so much before I had a great reason — I only had good ones.”
That was how HBO’s Bomani Jones opened his monologue about former Jazz big man Karl Malone, who was honored at this year’s NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. Salt Lake is where Malone played the majority of his professional career, and NBA franchises typically honor their most accomplished players when they host an All-Star Weekend.
As such, the big man was one of the judges during the dunk contest. He also received praise from LeBron James and a photo with LeBron and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This was the second year in a row that he was put under the spotlight. Last year, Malone was also honored during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game as one of the 75 greatest players of all time.
During his segment, Jones explained he didn’t like Malone because he was widely considered a dirty player who was known for throwing violent elbows at other players. But there was a gasp from his live studio audience when he reminded them Malone impregnated his 13-year-old neighbor, Gloria Bell, when he was 20.
"I hated Karl Malone so much before I had a great reason, I only had good ones. Like just being a dirty player, elbowing people all the time." @bomani_jones on Karl Malone's involvement in NBA All-Star Weekend in Utah. #anyquestion pic.twitter.com/l8ZPvST6VI
— Game Theory with Bomani Jones (@GameTheoryHBO) February 18, 2023
Blood tests showed a 99.3 percent probability Malone was the father of Demetress Bell, per AP.
The family could have filed criminal charges against Malone for impregnating a minor because, in Louisiana, an individual could not consent to sex until the age of 17. While statutory rape could have carried a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, Malone was a “neighborhood kid”, so they didn’t press charges.
His actions are absolutely heinous and should make it hard for the NBA to look themselves in the mirror after honoring this man two years in a row. But the story doesn’t stop there for Malone and his awful shortcomings.
When the child’s grandparents filed a lawsuit in 1985 requesting $200 a week to help their daughter raise their son, Malone did not respond, despite his career earnings topping $104 million. He was ordered to pay $125 per week in child support, but he appealed, eventually reaching a settlement that did not require him to acknowledge that he was the father.
Bell, who was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2008 and played in the NFL until 2013, said Malone told him he would have to “make it on his own” and that it was “too late” for him to be his father. Malone didn’t have his first father-son interaction with Bell until 2014 when the former NFL lineman was already 30 years old.
These are nauseating actions, but Malone’s history of neglect didn’t just affect Bell.
Bonita Ford, who dated Malone when they were in high school, filed a paternity lawsuit against Malone in 1989 when her twins, Daryl and Cheryl, were 8 years old. Three years later, Malone was found in contempt of court after he refused to submit DNA blood tests. This case, too, was resolved out of court.
Malone first reached out to the twins in 1998 when they were touted 17-year-old basketball recruits. (Both later played at Louisiana Tech, Malone’s alma mater, and Cheryl became a three-time WNBA champion and four-time WNBA All-Star.)
When reflecting on these decisions in 2018, Malone told Deseret News that he “didn’t handle it right” and added that the responsibilities seemed “overwhelming” to him.
This weekend, Malone added more thoughts about his own reputation (via Salt Lake Tribune):
“As players, we hear what’s written about us or said about us,” Malone acknowledged.
So then, what does he think of the more negative perception of him now?
“I’m not discussing any of that backlash. I don’t care,” he said defiantly. “That’s my life, that’s my personal life, and I’ll deal with that like I’ve had to deal with everything. So, whatever.”
He’s aware of the shifting narrative, but has no thoughts about it?
“Whatever. I’m human.”
But it was not just how Malone handled his personal life off the court that is troubling.
It was also his interpersonal relationships with other NBA players — and cuts much deeper than the elbow that required Isiah Thomas to get 40 stitches.
Karl Malone wasn't alone in not wanting Magic Johnson to play in the NBA due to his HIV diagnosis in 1991.
However, he was the most ignorant and outspoken at the time. No surprises there. pic.twitter.com/lHafSsrwyI
— Hoops Nostalgia (@HoopsNostalgia) February 20, 2023
Malone was the most outspoken player in the league about not wanting to play against his former Team USA gold medal running mate Magic Johnson after the five-time NBA champion was diagnosed with HIV.
Despite the fact players weren’t at risk of contracting the disease by simply playing on the same court, Johnson said Malone’s comments in 1992 almost prevented him from returning to the game.
Then, in 2004, per ESPN, Malone made “several inappropriate comments” to Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa. According to Malone’s agent, Dwight Manley, Malone said he was “hunting for little Mexican girls” because he was wearing a cowboy hat and cowboy boots.
Over a decade later, Malone said that Bryant had a “standing offer” to fight him if he still had an issue with what he said to Vanessa. Malone has a long history of deeply disturbing decisions like this, and they shouldn’t be ignored.
Malone should not be an ambassador for the game of basketball when he has carelessly and repeatedly hurt people in deeply impactful ways. The Jazz and the NBA should be embarrassed for trotting him out as if he deserved celebration.
If the NBA is going to advocate for social justice, they should not align themselves with Malone.
The Tip-Off
NBA content from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James shared a classy moment before the NBA All-Star Game. Here is more from my colleague Mike Sykes:
“Antetokounmpo has continued to reach his apex as a player and become widely considered the best player in the NBA by so many, but James has not been quick to let that crown go.
Giannis continues to have to snatch it from him. And we’ve quite literally seen that play out on the court.
Yes, obviously, that’s what sports are. But sometimes that can bleed over into real life and strain relationships between two players. So, naturally, one might think that’s happened here with James and Antetokounmpo.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case. At least, not after what Giannis told LeBron at the start of All-Star weekend on Friday.
The Bucks’ All-Star told James he was his biggest fan and it was such a cool moment between the two.”
Team Giannis finally beat Team LeBron in the All-Star Game on Sunday.
Shootaround
—Mac McClung had the classiest answer about potentially defending his Dunk Contest throne
— Jayson Tatum literally pump-faked a shot during the 3-Point Contest and fans couldn’t believe it
— Kyrie Irving had a fascinating way of covering the Nike logo on his shoes during the All-Star Game
— Charles Barkley says the Warriors are ‘cooked’ in heated exchange with Draymond Green
