The Mailman Retires

After 19 Seasons in the L, and at age 41, The Mailman, Karl Malone has finally decided to call it quits. Ringless, but with a sure-fire hall-of-fame career.

Malone spent 18 seasons with the Utah Jazz. But after many near-misses, he took a severe pay cut, and transfered to the L.A. Lakers for $1.65 million, to try and capture that elusive chip. But it seems as though the fates were conspiring against him, for it was not to be. After pulling together through all the setbacks, the Lakers were destroyed in five games by the Detroit Pistons in the 2003-2004 finals.

After the season, Malone flirted with the idea of retirement, but thought "very seriously" about trying for the Larry O'Brien trophy one more time, this time with the San Antonio Spurs. But, he decided instead, to retire.

Malone retires with 36,928 carrer points, putting him second in the league's all-time scorer's list. That's one behind the showtime-era Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), but ahead between No.23 Michael Jordan (32,292) and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419).

The Mailman will officially announce his retirement on Sunday, in Utah. No doubt with a ceremonial No.32 jersey being lifted into the rafters, to mark his impact on the game.


Malone