A retrospective take at Karl Malone’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a time when superteams are dominating the league and the Los Angeles Lakers struggle to sign high profile free agents (though probably on the verge to end this drought) my mind cannot help but go back to the team which kicked off this modern era of superteams and coincidentally featured the Lakers’ last strikes in free agency.
I am talking about the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers, the team that caused the biggest and most painful disappointment I have ever had as a Lakers fan.
Coming from an early exit in the Western Conference Semifinals, in the summer of 2003, the Lakers acknowledged the need to improve low post and pick and roll defense to survive an eventual face off with NBA Champions San Antonio Spurs. What came most unexpected was that they addressed these needs acquiring perennial All-Stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton (and an honorable mention goes to four-time NBA champ Horace Grant).
In their quest to the championship that Michael Jordan denied them in the 90’s, Malone and Payton accepted to sign with Los Angeles at the sunset of their careers for the bi-annual and mid-level exception. It made what seemed like a far-fetched dream of assembling a team featuring four Hall of Famers and coached by Zen master Phil Jackson a reality.
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This superteam generated so much hype and expectations that losing in the Finals was considered a major shortcoming. Immediately after the signing of the two veterans, the Lakers were considered a lock to win the 2004 title, but they underachieved losing 4-1 to the much less talented Detroit Pistons.
Or maybe they overachieved just reaching the NBA Finals given the tumultuous season they had to endure. Nothing went as expected with every kind of issue bothering the team.0
Kobe Bryant‘s sexual assault charge which forced him to fly to Colorado for the trials and often coming back just in time for game time. Numerous injuries which plagued an already extremely short team. The feud between Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal reaching its climax. Payton’s struggles to fit in the triangle offense.
In such a problematic team, Malone was the closest thing to a positive note for the Lakers. He played solid basketball when able to stay on the court and proving something much more significant for his career than the conquest of a ring.
One of the strongest physical forces in the history of the game, the Mailman, despite being the NBA second leading scorer and a two-time MVP, gets often overlooked and underrated because of his almost-twenty-year partnership with point guard John Stockton.
Many people credit his success and high productivity to the sole reason of having been facilitated by playing with NBA all-time assist leader Stockton. But Malone was, in fact, a talented offensive force and a hard worker.
Do not forget how he came into the league as only a physical presence and was able to develop a reliable jump shot which became his trademark in the latter years. He was surprisingly quick despite his massive body, overpowering his defenders with a combination of strength and agility.
Furthermore, he was an outstanding defender, three times earning All-NBA Defensive Team honors. In 1989 he recorded an exceptional 6.6 defensive win shares to go along with a more impressive 92.4 career total.
Los Angeles Lakers
In his lone season as a Laker, Malone proved how valuable a player he was without the need of Stockton. He averaged 13.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in an offense dominated by scoring machines Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant and was still able to defend against premiere power forwards. He became the first player to record a triple-double at 40 years of age.
Unfortunately, the former Bulldog was forced to miss 40 games because of a misdiagnosed knee sprain, which was revealed to be an MCL tear that he suffered in December. However, when able to play, he made all the difference for Los Angeles with a 17.82 PER and generating a 5.9 differential when on the floor, per Basketball-Reference.
Unlike Payton, Malone was a seamless fit in the triangle offense and Jackson never complained about him with the media (as he used to do) nor in his books.
Despite not being the same for the rest of the season, the Mailman recovered in time for the playoffs. In the first round against the Houston Rockets, he averaged 18 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals. He had a monster Game Four, recording a team-high 30 points, 13 rebounds and 3 steals.
During the conference semifinals, his defense proved vital, keeping former two-time MVP Tim Duncan to an average of 17.5 points per game in the final four games, which the Lakers won recovering from a 0-2 deficit.
Even in the Conference Finals Malone was still astonishing. He managed to average 12 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists against 2004 MVP and defensive stopper Kevin Garnett. In Game Four victory he approached once more the triple-double area, coming just two assists shy. Unfortunately, during the NBA Finals, he was a non-factor as re-aggravating his knee injury in Game Three. He missed the final two games which led to the infamous defeat.
The perception that a full strength Karl Malone would have made a totally different series is strong. Despite his solid performances throughout the playoffs, he was never 100 percent. His body completely failed him in the Finals.
The knee injury and controversy with Bryant and his wife led Malone to retire before the start of the following season. He never got that ring he joined Los Angeles for, but notwithstanding the injuries, he played very well and showed his true value at 40 years old.
Malone was the glue guy for a dysfunctional team that was less than the sum of his parts, often performing under expectations. Every night he wore his signature wristbands and went out to be what the team needed him to be. One night a scorer, one a passer, another a defender, another a fighter in the low post and under the boards.
Next: 50 Greatest Players In Lakers Franchise History
Had the Lakers won that ring, maybe his jersey would now be hanging along those of Shaq, Magic and the other L.A. legends, but nonetheless some people will remember him as a contributor to the early 2000’s Lakers’ success.