Today is Karl Malone's birthday. I would not be a Utah Jazz fan if it was not for Karl Malone. He was the most dominant man at his peak, and was a quantum leap in terms of off-season training, in-season preparation, and on court destruction. He is a medical marvel, and my favorite player. He was a guy from a small town who had a work ethic so many people did not have, and under the brightest lights he shone like a diamond - for he was one. He may have started out as a hyper cluster of carbon, but through his dedication and trials in life he became a diamond.
What is a diamond? The hardest m'effing natural substance on this earth.
Karl Malone was as hard as it gets. (Vid by Adam / @ProdigalJF / Memoismoney on YT)
Here's a list of his 49 or greater point games
| Karl Malone's career 49 or greater point games | ||||||||||||
| vs. | Age | Mins | Pts | Reb | FTA | PPS | ||||||
| @ Hornets | 26 | 43 | : | 22 | . | 52 | 17 | . | 12 | . | 1.86 | |
| vs. Bucks | 26 | 33 | : | 21 | . | 61 | 18 | . | 23 | . | 2.35 | |
| @ Warriors | 26 | 41 | : | 17 | . | 49 | 14 | . | 21 | . | 2.23 | |
| vs. Warriors | 32 | 45 | : | 19 | . | 51 | 14 | . | 16 | . | 1.82 | |
| @ Warriors | 34 | 42 | : | 18 | . | 56 | 9 | . | 23 | . | 1.93 | |
| vs. Sonics | 36 | 43 | : | 18 | . | 50 | 12 | . | 14 | . | 1.56 | |
- He played in 16 different seasons where he averaged 49.0 or greater fg%.
- He played in 15 games of 49 or greater total minutes played.
- And he played in 500 games of at least 4 assists and at least 9 rebounds in the same game.
- He's also probably caused 49 concussions.
Happy 49th Birthday Karl Malone. Thank you for making a small town boy from Canada a Utah Jazz fan. And for teaching me that hard work pays off. Thank you for being as hard as it gets - a diamond.