Jazz History: Al Jefferson's Big Game Vs. Karl Malone

As an individual Al Jefferson isn't a perfect human being, few people are. On the court he isn't perfect either, but even fewer people are flawless there. That said, Big Al had a great game against the Detroit Pistons: 33 points, 12 rebounds, and he even made one three pointer. We can extoll his virtues for shooting 14/18, but also cringe at his 1 assist to 4 turn overs. Still, all things considered (including the win), it was a remarkable night for a remarkable individual. It was a night that I will not easily forget.

I was curious to see how his big game stacks up against that of Karl Malone? Well, The Mailman went 30/10 w/ 1 three a whopping 23 times in his career. And over that stretch he averaged 34.0 ppg (60.3 fg%), 11.7 rpg, and nailed a three in each of those games. Karl did have a number of absolutely superior games (even in shooting greater than Al's 77.8 fg%), but I think it is safe to say that Karl was an absolutely superior player.

In Al's defense, he had 2 blocks in that game, and Karl only equaled that feat 3 times. Karl's 0.7 bpg average in these games isn't that great, but he wasn't much of a shot blocker. He did average 1.4 spg (to Al's 0.0 spg), and 3.5 apg (to Al's 1.0 spg). Malone had a 3.5 topg rate in these games too. It was a 1:1 ratio, vs. Al's 0.25:1 ratio.

Karl was a monster though, an All-NBA type who made opposing players, coaches, and at times even referees, quake with fear. We need Big Al to have more games like this, and we know he is capable of doing it.

Go Al! Go Jazz! Go Positivity Week!