SACRAMENTO — There was a time Karl Malone might not have minded an All-Star Game snub like the one he received Tuesday.
This time, though, Malone seemed genuinely saddened that he was not asked to represent the Western Conference at next month's mid-season showcase event in Atlanta.
"I don't think it matters," he said in a quiet, measured tone.
"You can't control it, and there ain't nothing you can do about it," Malone added. "But . . . I got nominated 14 times (previously). They don't pick you now? What can you do about it?"
With forwards Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas, Shawn Marion of Phoenix and Chris Webber of Sacramento named to join fan-chosen starting forwards Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, those were the questions Malone was asking after coaches picking reserves for the honor game essentially told him he no longer is one of the conference's top-five forwards.
Every All-Star Game since 1988 — his third season in the league — Malone has been selected to play. He did not go because of injury in 1990, went rather grudgingly to the 2000 game in Oakland and begged out last season because his mother was ill.
Recently, though, the Mailman spoke of how going yet again would really mean something, especially as his career begins to wind down.
But it's not to be.
Malone — who is averaging 19.7 points per game, which is at least two points behind all forwards chosen ahead of him — has a couple of theories as to why he was snubbed.
One is that the league prefers hyping its rising stars, not propping up its fading ones.
"It's young and old," he said. "That's basically it, you know?"
Another is that the powers that run the league are the ones actually making the selections — not the conference's coaches, as billed.
"I don't feel that the coaches pick the team . . . I never felt like they do," said Malone, now tied with Eastern Conference reserve pick Michael Jordan at 14 selections each, second only to leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 19. "I think it definitely comes from the top — who they really want. I really do."
Malone should not feel alone in being slighted, however.
Despite the fact they had 25 wins at the midway point of their season, the Jazz have no one — not even all-time NBA assists and steals leader John Stockton, nor longshot candidate Matt Harpring — playing in the game.
"What do you do about it?" Malone asked.
His personal response is to merely keep playing like he has been.
"As long as I feel that I'm a part of helping us win, and helping us get to the playoffs, that's my All-Star gratification — to myself, and my team. That's what I'm working for," Malone said before scoring 29 points and pulling down 10 rebounds in Utah's win at Sacramento on Tuesday night. "There's been guys that should have been on an All-Star team that haven't been (before). But they helped their team win — and I think that's what matters."
Looking on the bright side, Malone said the snub may allow him an opportunity to drive his very own monster truck, Power Forward, during a previously scheduled monster-truck rally at the Delta Center on Feb. 7-8, which also just happens to be part of All-Star Weekend.
Not that that makes the reality of it all any easier to stomach.
"Of course you're disappointed," Malone said as he clutched a paperback book whose title — "Silent Warrior" — he believes sums his cause. "Of course you are."
Western Conference forwards
2003 All-Stars
Tim Duncan, Spurs — 23.6 ppg, 12.6 rpg
Kevin Garnett, T-wolves — 21.8 ppg, 12.8 rpg
Chris Webber, Kings — 23.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg
Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks — 22.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg
Shawn Marion, Suns — 21.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg
Not making the cut
Karl Malone, Jazz — 19.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg
Matt Harpring, Jazz — 18.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg
E-MAIL: tbuckley@desnews.com