My Greatest Malik Memory

[Jdspur20]

this is, this was the moment i knew we would go on to win the le in '03. this was game 2 against the lakers.

[Neonmoon83]

I met Malik at PF Changs once with a bunch of my girlfriends. He was nice enough to come over and sing Happy 21st B-day to her with us. I really do love that man!

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

mine has to be back in 99 when he wasnt in the shape he is now, and he had teeth going in every direction and the mini fro, and he was part of the bum rush crew, I just remember him on the bench clutching his fist, helping his team in anyway possible.

[Rosie]

I'm with Jimcs5o. I will miss Malik and hope he will come back to SA, one day for good. San Antonio will always be his home.

[Solid D]

Greatest memory is when I attended DRob's retirement ceremony game against Milwaukee.

Malik was the player that spoke the most about David and he was the one that cried.

Malik is one of my favorite basketball players ever. If I had a son in the league, I would want him to play with as much heart and with as much passion as he did each and every game. He was one of us, he was not gifted, he earned his spot on the team because he worked his ass off to get better and better. Sure he ed up, but so do we, and when he ed up, it was because he was trying too hard, and sometimes he would get on himself ever harder than Pop did.

I hope in the near future, even the haters will think back and wish we still had Malik on the bench or on the floor getting rebounds that only he and maybe Dennis Rodman would have tried for.

This was one of my favorites too, Jim. I was in attendance and he spoke from the heart. He was asked by the players to be the spokesman.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

bum rush crew

Ahh yes, the bum rush crew. Good times.

[realmofreality]

My favorite memory will be always be the way he came into each battle and no matter how outsized, matched or outtalented he always fought hard to overcome and was a huge inspiration to all who have limitations in size, talent etc that your strongest assest is the size of your heart.Malik always played with heart and has a heart of gold and we can already see the loss as a big chunk of our Spurs heart is empty tonight. Thanks Malik for being a true warrior, nomatter where you go this is 1 fan who will always be in your corner.

[MI21]

My favourite Malik memory is from the 1st round of the 2002 Playoffs against Seattle. Just before Game 4 tragic news was that Timmy's father had passed away and Tim would miss the game.

Malik was obviously very sad for Tim being really close friends and all. He played what was maybe his best game ever scoring 29 points and grabbing 13 boards against a tough Seattle team. He even did the ball hugging thing that Timmy does before every game. He laid it all out there that night and it just reminds me how much heart and how much effort Malik put into helping the Spurs win

[Jimcs50]

This was one of my favorites too, Jim. I was in attendance and he spoke from the heart. He was asked by the players to be the spokesman.

Yes, Solid, he was a great speaker. Maybe he can come back and finish his career at SA like Sean did. I feel the same way I did when Elliott left for Detroit.

[sbsquared]

These are all so great - thanks for sharing!

[johnny00]

Rose in the Laker series 2003. Rock on brother, you will always be a Spur in our hearts.

[ALVAREZ6]

IF THIS ( ^^^^^) happened to me and I was Bradley, I would quit.

How stupid would you feel if you got block about 1 foot over the rim by a guy who's 1 foot shorter than you, and half the arm length.....

[milkyway21]

As you all know, I am not a big Malik fan. I believe that Pop misused him his whole career and now he has a chance to show his true colors. I printed this picture the night that it happened and has been posted next to my computer since and everyday I look at it and think:

Persevere
Conquer
Defeat
Overcome
Just Win.

1. dunk ON Dike Motumbo
2. towel over his head while Pops staring at him really, really hard.

hey Sequ how about that promise that you made? is this the end of all of the ?

[slayermin]

[alamo50]

The 1st thing that happened to me when I saw the news up in here of the Malik trade I was more hurt than I thought I would be.
After David retired Malik became my favourite active Spur.
At the same time I was screaming for the addition of a big guy since Malone went fishing.

The next thing that flashed through my mind while feeling hurt was how Malik's biggest fan Reid must be crying rivers of tears right now...........
I got to know Reid during my 1st visit to San Antonio during the 2002 playoffs.

Before the games started I always went over to him sitting in the corner of the court and talked with him about what Malik would be doing that game.
As the players would come out of the tunnel Reid would always be right there with his hand out to get the high fives of everybody...everybody?
No not everybody, he just wanted Malik's high-five.
During the warm-up Malik would always make sure to waive to Reid and his parents. They are best of friends.

When I was sitting next to Reid for that home playoff game vs. .allas during the 2003 playoffs at the SBC I experienced my "greatest" memory of Malik.
Malik went down to the floor after being hit in the head.
He layed still on the floor for a couple of minutes and Reid who I was sitting next to that game at the corner of the court went down when Malik did.
Reid dropped in his chair and got his head between his knees hoping Malik would just get up!
I put my hand on Reid shoulder and told him Malik would be fine and not to think the worst.
When Malik stood up I bend down to tell Reid Malik was fine.
Reid stood up and dared to look for himself again with tears in his eyes and with great pride and tears in his eyes Reid straightened his back and applauded and shouted to support Malik.

So you see, this ain't an athletic achievement from Malik that is in my mind as the greates memory I have from him.
It's about being part of a special community and being close to my friend Reid and making a true difference in his life.

Malik even named the french fries at his restaurant "Reid's fries".
Malik also thanked Reid in his farewell speech at WOAI.