Kevin Garnett
Karl Malone
At their peaks, who was better.
I vote KG since I don't think Malone was ever better than peak (2004) KG. Malone was a better scorer numbers wise but that has a lot to do with Stockton while KG never had a PG who could run pick and rolls that well. KG is a way better passer/rebounder/defender/face-up iso scorer in his prime, so I give him the nod.
tough question ..... I probably go with KG because defensively he could guard practically all five positions.
Malone wasn't even the leader of his own team. While he was quite good, I think he's one of the more overrated players in NBA history. He was like Amare before Amare... great athlete with skill, but wouldn't be nearly as dominant without a HOF PG creating all kinds of opportunities for them.
I pick KG. Too bad. What a waste of his prime in Minnesota
Karl Malone is so overrated.
At first glance I would say Malone because he played in a better era for big men. No way KG could guard Barkley.
But with KG, Anything is posssssibleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, #$%#! #$%! #&^$, bag
Malone was much beefier than KG. Malone would shove KG all over the court in his prime.
KG had his own share of tricks for defending beefy guys as well, like pulling the chair. add to it, his ridiculous athletic ability and long-ass arms, he was able to handle big guys pretty decently
Malone had an even bigger size advantage on Rodman than he would have had on KG and Rodman still gave him fits. He coulda been a lot better at taking advantage of the fact he's built like a middle linebacker than he was.
Last edited by Steve Kerr; 09-09-2010 at 12:44 PM.
Karl Malone was seemingly the better scorer based on numbers but I don't think the difference is great if Malone was even better at all. Malone got a lot of spoon-fed lay-ups out of the pick-and-roll and he wasn't much of a traditional back-to-the-basket low post scorer just like KG. Later on in his career, when he didn't scorer out of the pick-and-roll or at the free throw line, it was the mid range jumper from the extended free throw line. KG has never been a very good low post scorer either, but he could score without the benefit of the pick-and-roll since he had face-up skills and the ability to score off the dribble out of a face-up position. Karl Malone put up better scoring numbers, but I don' think there's a huge difference in ability to score.
Malone was obviously stronger and tougher. But pretty much every other advantage belongs to KG. At KG's peak, he did bulk up to be closer to 250 than the 220 he was early on in his career. And at that peak, KG was one of the most well-rounded and versatile players ever.
I'd take KG at his peak over Malone at his.
Malone's elbows >>>KG
Quality post brah,. I'd go with KG too, it makes me wonder what would have happened to Malone's career without somebody like Stockton
Duncan
I would take KG by a slight margin, but I don't think Malone is overrated at all, I actually think he has become underrated for a while now..Stockton is really overrated IMO..
grey spurfan.
Malone's defense may actually be getting underrated here. Good PnR defender, and a much better man defender than Garnett. A better passer as well, and more of a volume scorer. He didn't have a great post-up game but it was better than Garnett's. Surprised at the unanimous picking of KG here.
Malone is a better defender, but KG is more unguardable and his offense is more diverse.
My good god. I can't believe a couple of you actually think Malone didn't have a good post up game. He's without question the greatest non-center post up player of all-time. Just how much Jazz basketball did you guys watch? Until he perfected his midrange jumper, Malone made a living posting up.
And to say that all Malone got off the PnR was easy layups is completely false, and yet again I question if you guys actually watched any Jazz games.
Jesus ing Christ!! I'm blown away at the stupidity of JamStone and picc84.
Me as well...............Malone was awesome.
Started watching the NBA in the mid 1980s. Saw most of the Jazz playoff games during Malone's career. Malone feasted off the pick-and roll. I didn't say Malone couldn't score in the low post but I wouldn't say he was a great low-post scorer with his back to the basket.
And how about you saying "without question the greatest non-center post up player of all time" completely disregarding guys like Tim Duncan and Kevin McHale? Yeah, let's talk about stupidity.
You probably should be even more blown away by your own stupidity.
I agree whole heartedly. Malone's strength was his turn-around jumper, mid-range and his ability to get out on the break for easy scores (as well as finish on the pnr). Sound familiar? So to me they are very similar players in terms of production, though not in body type. People on here sometimes forget despite the sympathy that KG garnered for playing hard on crap teams, he was considered somewhat of a choker like Karl. I always thought KG did not choke, but rather was worn out from carrying those horrible teams.But it is what it is ...But back to why I take KG ...
1. Better rebounder (despite his small frame) KG put up some sick numbers rebounding in his peak.
2. Defensively few could match his ability to show on pnr, protect the rim AND grab rebounds sometime all in the same possesion.
3. The ring. Yes, he had to pull a Lebron (kidding) to get one. But I must stay consistent here. When players are close, the ring is the tie-breaker for me. Plus his leadership TRANSFORMED that team. Although Pierce was the leader of the offense KG was the leader of the celts as a defensive force.
So it's KG in a close race.
Any Malone fans here, I am not hating. Along with Lebron, Barkley, Nique, Miller and Stockton (of course) he is one of the best to ever do it and not ring since 1980 ...
You are a ing moron. Like most fans.
I would not say he did not have one, but it was not the stuff of Kevin, McHale, James worthy, or even the great smaller forwards like Adrian Dantley. Although he might of scored from the block in his peak, I never watched a game of his and was "amazed" by malone's footwork in the post. That is what I think most are talking about in the comparison.
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