Glory on the court, scandals off it: Karl Malone’s troubling double life

Karl Malone remains one of the most dominant players in NBA history. The third-highest scorer of all time, « The Mailman » compiled impressive statistics over 19 seasons: averaging 25 points with 51.6% shooting accuracy, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. His legendary consistency allowed him to string together 17 consecutive seasons averaging over 20 points per game.

The power forward’s achievements are equally impressive with 2 regular season MVP titles, 11 All-NBA First Team selections, and 14 All-Star Game appearances. A member of the 1992 Dream Team, he formed one of NBA history’s most formidable duos with John Stockton, never missing the playoffs during 18 seasons with the Utah Jazz.

A reputation tarnished by controversial behavior

Despite this sporting excellence, Karl Malone faces fierce criticism today. In 2023, Rolling Stone labeled him a « creep » during his participation in the All-Star Weekend dunk contest. The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah’s main newspaper, even asked the Jazz to stop giving him visibility.

These criticisms stem from troubling incidents in his private life. At age 20, while playing at Louisiana Tech, Malone had a relationship with Gloria Bell, then 13 years old, who gave birth to a son, Demetress. Malone refused to acknowledge this child for decades despite a positive paternity test. He had already had twins, Daryl and Cheryl Ford, at age 17 with another woman, whom he had also abandoned.

In 2004, Malone was accused by Kobe Bryant of making inappropriate comments toward his wife Vanessa, including remarks about « hunting young Mexican girls, » confirmed by his own agent. These incidents contributed to deteriorating the atmosphere within the Lakers.

Patrick Beverley was SPEECHLESS when he found out about Karl Malone’s past 😭😭pic.twitter.com/FsDhcAiA8n

— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) August 8, 2025

A sporting legacy called into question

Facing these controversies, Malone has never shown remorse. When questioned about societal criticism during the 2023 All-Star Weekend, he simply stated: « I don’t care » and « Whatever. I’m human. » This attitude fuels debates about NBA franchises’ responsibility.

The Utah Jazz continue to honor their former star, particularly during their 50th anniversary with a documentary featuring Malone and Stockton. This approach divides opinion, with some believing the organization should stop giving the former player a platform. The implicit message would be that success and celebrity allow one to escape the consequences of their actions.

This situation perfectly illustrates the complexity of separating sporting performances from personal actions in modern professional sports.