Karl Malone has finally spoken out on the David Benoit incident.
Benoit several weeks ago made some disparaging remarks about Malone specifically and the Jazz in general. Among other things, he said the Mailman didn't deliver in the clutch and that the Jazz's offense involved four guys standing around watching Malone set up in the low post.It's not the first assault on Malone. Others have done it, including Chris Webber, Derrick Coleman, Darrell Walker. Malone's response to such attacks usually has been minimal, and after Benoit's comments, Malone at first declined to comment.
This week he opened up.
"It's strange, because when David was here, I was taking time to help him and I thought I was helping him with his career," Malone said in an interview with Dan Garcia of the Newark Star-Ledger.
"But I'll tell you what, when he comes back, he's going to see out there," he added, gesturing to the Delta Center floor.
Benoit, now a New Jersey Net, is out for the season after undergoing surgery on an Achilles tendon. His injury postpones any Malone-Benoit reunion.
Malone said the Benoit incident has affected him but doesn't worry him.
"You can't say bad stuff about a person and not expect that person not to like you, that's human nature," he said. "There's nothing I can do about that. A lot of people spend too much time worrying about what other people are doing instead of worrying about their own game. That's what this league is coming to.
"With all the negative shots I've taken from people, I still don't have anything negative to say about them. I believe I came into this game with some dignity and pride, and that's how I'm going to leave. I'm not going to go out writing a book to take a slam at ex-teammates. If I've got anything to say, I'm going to tell you while you're here. That's the coward's way to do it, waiting until you go to another team."
Malone said he's also not concerned about critics who continually point out that he hasn't won an NBA title.
"Everybody comes at me to say, 'How about winning the NBA championship?' " he said. "But you know what? That's not what drives me. What drives me is these guys in this locker room and competing. I don't care about the NBA championship because that's how outside people measure me. That's not the way I measure myself.
"I'm not done with this game, but I can see the end coming. It's all right to think about what I'm going to miss - and that's this locker room and the truly great friendships I have had."
When he does leave the game behind, Malone said, he'll do so having left everything he had on the floor.
"I have my priorities in order, so when I leave this business, I won't need to explain anything to anybody because I don't need to," he said. "There are a lot of people out there who can't say that. They'll have to explain not just their game, but the rest of their life, too."