Basketball Culture
Why the Utah Jazz Retired Jerry Sloan's #1223
Jerry Sloan coached the Jazz for 23 seasons, won 1,127 games with one franchise, and built the Stockton-Malone dynasty. Here is why #1223 belongs in the rafters.
8 min
1985
Rookie Year
19
Seasons
The Mailman always delivered. Karl Malone's 36,928 career points — second all-time in NBA history at his retirement — were accumulated through relentless conditioning, unstoppable low-post footwork, and an unbreakable work ethic that defined his 18 seasons in Utah. A two-time MVP who reached the Finals in 1997 and 1998 with Stockton, Malone remains the standard for what a power forward can accomplish when talent meets preparation.
Personal Life & Family
Jerry Sloan coached the Jazz for 23 seasons, won 1,127 games with one franchise, and built the Stockton-Malone dynasty. Here is why #1223 belongs in the rafters.
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Teams
Utah Jazz
1985-2003
Los Angeles Lakers
2003-2004
#3 All-Time Scorer
36,928 points#3 All-Time
Third on the NBA all-time scoring list with 36,928 points. Only LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored more.
#2 All-Time FGM Leader
13,528 FGM#2 All-Time
Second-most field goals made in NBA history.
#1 All-Time FTM Leader
9,787 FTM#1 All-Time
Most free throws made in NBA history.
#3 All-Time Minutes Leader
54,852 min#3 All-Time
Third-most minutes played.
#6 All-Time Games Played Leader
1,476 games#6 All-Time
Sixth-most games played.
2x NBA MVP
2xWon back-to-back MVPs in 1997 and 1999.
14x NBA All-Star
14xSelected to 14 All-Star Games.
The Mailman
Cultural LegacyKnown as "The Mailman" because he always delivered. Formed the greatest pick-and-roll duo in history with John Stockton.
Partner
Kay Kinsey (married 1990)
Children (1)
Off the Court
Karl Malone Foundation for Kids
Active in Louisiana community development
Did You Know?
His nickname 'The Mailman' came from a college teammate who said 'Karl delivers' — a reference that became one of the most famous nicknames in sports.
He is the only player in NBA history to score 2,000+ points in 11 different seasons.
Malone and Stockton stayed together for 18 seasons — a partnership so loyal that it became the definition of basketball brotherhood.
His only championship run came in 2004 with the LA Lakers at age 40, but a knee injury ended that Shaq-Kobe-Malone-Payton season prematurely.
Career Honors
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Frank Layden drafted Stockton, built the Jazz culture in Utah, and laid the foundation for the Stockton-Malone dynasty. Here is why coach #1 belongs in the rafters.
Karl Malone scored 36,928 career points, won two MVPs, and played 18 seasons for one team running the greatest pick-and-roll in history. Here is why #32 belongs in the rafters.
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