Karl Malone's All-Time NBA Starting Five Excludes Michael Jordan
Karl Malone Named His All-Time NBA Starting 5 - No Michael Jordan

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Karl Malone, during a 2013 interview, named his all-time NBA starting five, notably excluding Michael Jordan. His selections included John Stockton, Oscar Robertson, Scottie Pippen, LeBron James, and Wilt Chamberlain, sparking debate about the omission of Jordan, a longtime rival.
- 01Malone chose John Stockton as point guard, praising his assist and steal records, which remain unmatched.
- 02Oscar Robertson, known for his versatility, was selected as shooting guard, recognized for being the first player to average a triple-double in a season.
- 03Scottie Pippen was controversially chosen over Jordan for small forward, highlighting his leadership during Jordan's absence.
- 04LeBron James was picked as power forward, reflecting Malone's admiration for his skills and success during the early 2010s.
- 05Wilt Chamberlain was selected as center, noted for his extraordinary scoring and rebounding statistics.
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In a 2013 appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, NBA legend Karl Malone named his all-time starting five, controversially omitting Michael Jordan, despite Jordan's status as one of the greatest players in basketball history. Malone's lineup features John Stockton at point guard, who holds the NBA records for career assists and steals. For shooting guard, he selected Oscar Robertson, a versatile player known for being the first to average a triple-double in a season. Small forward went to Scottie Pippen, whose selection over Jordan raised eyebrows, though Malone justified it by citing Pippen's success during Jordan's brief retirement. LeBron James was named power forward, reflecting Malone's admiration for James' skills during his peak years with the Miami Heat. Finally, Wilt Chamberlain was chosen as center, recognized for his incredible scoring and rebounding averages, including a legendary 100-point game. Malone's choices sparked discussions about the criteria for greatness in the NBA, particularly regarding the exclusion of Jordan.
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