Karl Malone says he will always live - and perhaps even die - in Utah. He just doesn't want to play basketball here anymore.
Malone told the listening audience of his Los Angeles-based radio show on Wednesday that he wants a clean break from the only NBA team he's ever played for, the Utah Jazz."I am tired of the posturing and jabbering back and forth, and I will go out on a limb and say, when the lockout is over with, I will make a demand to be traded," Malone said. "I will say it right now, I have played my last game in Salt Lake City, and it's time for Karl to move on."
Malone has been at odds with Jazz management and the local media for months. He's alluded to wanting to leave the team on numerous occasions since the season ended in June, but Wednesday's declaration represent by far his most direct comments.
"I am not doing this as a ploy at all," Malone said. "I will continue to live and to die in Utah, but my basketball career . . . I have to move on."
Jazz vice president of basketball operations Scott Layden and the team's general manager Tim Howells both declined to comment about Malone when reached on Wednesday evening, citing the NBA's gag-order during the lockout. Jazz president Frank Layden, Malone's first Jazz coach, said he expects the problems will be ironed out and that the 13-year veteran will still finish his career in Utah, however.
It's unlikely the Jazz will actively try to trade Malone despite his demands. Jazz insiders indicated earlier this summer that the team would like to take one more major run at the franchise's first NBA title while they still have Malone, John Stockton and Jeff Hornacek under contract. The theory is that a even a disgruntled Malone plays hard every night to help his team win. Malone has missed only five games in 13 seasons and has averaged 26.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for his career. Stockton and Hornacek, like Malone, have just one more year left on their current contracts.
Malone's comments came on the first day in more than two weeks that his radio show could not be heard in Utah. KALL radio (910 AM) had been broadcasting the program, but it was pulled off the air after the station refused to pay for it after getting it for free for two weeks.
Malone, whose voice was hoarser than usual due to a cold, seemed to revel in the fact that his demands on Wednesday weren't being heard live in Utah.
"The most exciting thing about the whole announcement is they get to hear it second hand," Malone said.
The NBA's fourth all-time leading scorer made his comments while hosting the show for Los Angeles' KXTA (1150 AM) from a radio station in Arkansas near his ranch. Malone's trade demand, while obviously something that has been on his mind, almost seemed to be made on the spur of the moment. It wasn't until his two-hour show was halfway over before he even brought it up. He also admitted that he had yet to discuss it with his wife and kids before he made it public over the airwaves.
"You know what, maybe this cold just brought it out of me," said Malone at one point. Still, he wasn't about to back off of his trade demands. "I'm not in no drunken stupor. I know what the hell I'm talking about. I'm going to go from here and I'm not going to look back."
Malone specifically mentioned gripes with the Utah media and team owner Larry H. Miller as reasons for his wanting to leave the Jazz.
The NBA lifted the ban on team representatives talking to the players last week.
The Jazz, according to Malone, have planned a team meeting with management and the players on Monday. Malone said he won't attend even though he plans on being in Salt Lake. He also said he's felt a lack of respect from Miller because the team owner hasn't even called him on the telephone.
"My phone number, he have it," Malone said of Miller. "He live two blocks from me, and I can't get a call from him? Now you tell me, when you talk about respect, you tell me I got it."
Meanwhile, Malone called the Utah media "goons."
"I will never, ever do another interview in Salt Lake City," said Malone. "They are cowards.
"The media is the reason I don't want to come back to Utah . . . . You don't respect me, I don't respect you. The hell with it. Yesterday was the last straw when I see all the things the so-called experts are writing and talking about me."
Dwight Manley, Malone's agent who is based in Southern California, could not be reached for comment. Malone said Manley was on his way to Jackson, Miss.
Malone has a $6 million contract with the Jazz this season, although he'll make less than that due to missed games because of the lockout. Manley has said he expects the bidding for Malone's services to start somewhere in the $20 million range when he becomes a free agent next summer.
Malone said there are "three or four" teams he would like to play for - including a certain team the Jazz have eliminated from the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. "I would love to have an opportunity to play with the Lakers, either when this lockout is over with or when I become a free agent," he said.
But for now - as much as he may not like it - the Jazz still own Malone's NBA rights.