Karl Malone has won two MVP awards with the Utah Jazz.
The Utah Jazz have won two MVP awards as a franchise, and both went to the same player. Unsurprisingly, the award recipient on both occasions was the best player ever to don the team’s jersey: Karl Malone. “The Mailman” won the award in the 1996-97 and 1998-99 seasons. We’ll examine both seasons in greater detail, as Malone established himself as one of the best power forwards in the league.
Karl Malone: 1997 NBA MVP
Malone won the first MVP of his career during the 1996-97 season, an era in which Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dominated the NBA. Malone took down the award by being one of the most productive and durable players in the NBA, as he appeared in each of the 82 regular-season contests and averaged 27.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while logging 36.6 minutes per contest. Malone’s calling card was his post play, but also his efficiency. He made 55% of his shots from the field and 75.5% from the free throw line.
Karl Malone: 1999 NBA MVP
Malone was named the MVP of the strike-shortened 1998-999 season. He started 49 games, averaging 23.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. This was a season in which Malone was also named to the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive Team. He led the league in made free throws and was close to averaging a double-double.
Throughout his career, Malone averaged 25.0 points per game in a 19-year career that included 18 seasons with the Jazz and one with the Los Angeles Lakers. Malone recorded 14 All-Star berths and was named to the All-Defense Team four times. He also won two MVP awards and was named the All-Star Game MVP twice.
