Karl Malone's "role model" advice to Charles Barkley in 1993 hasn't aged well in wake of shocking controversies resurfacing
Karl Malone and Charles Barkley shared an excellent relationship off the court. The former NBA MVPs entered the league around the same time. Barkley debuted in 1984, while Malone began his journey in 1985. The two competed in the Western Conference in their primes.
Barkley was with the Phoenix Suns, and Malone was leading the charge for the Utah Jazz. Both endured many controversial moments off the court. However, Malone's controversies have frequently dampened his legacy on the court.
"The Mailman" was at the center of all the criticism during his recent appearance at the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend. The NBA received flak for giving Karl Malone the platform. Some of his most disgraceful controversies resurfaced after news broke about his presence at the annual basketball carnival.
In light of these recent events, Malone's advice to Charles Barkley about being a "role model" in 1993 hasn't aged well. Here's what the former Utah Jazz star told Barkley about their responsibilities toward their fans about being chosen as a role model by fans (via Sports Illustrated):
"I love being a role model, and I try to be a positive one. That doesn't mean I always succeed. I'm no saint. I make mistakes, and sometimes I do childish things. And I don't always wake up in a great, role-model mood.
"There are days when I don't want to pose for a picture with every fan I run into, when I don't feel like picking up babies and giving them hugs and kisses (no matter how cute they are). Those are the days I just try to steer clear of the public."
Unfortunately, Karl Malone finds himself in the middle of many more significant controversies than just ignoring fans on the go.
Click here to read about Malone's interview about Barkley.
Which controversies resurfaced centered around Karl Malone following his 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend appearance?
Karl Malone was among the Utah Jazz legends the NBA wanted to be a part of during this year's NBA All-Star weekend, which was being held in Salt Lake City. Malone was one of the judges for the Slam Dunk contest and was invited on stage during a ceremony to honor LeBron James for breaking the all-time scoring record.
Malone was second on the list for the longest time and is now the third-leading scorer of all-time after James passed him and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. NBA fans raged over Malone's inclusion due to his past controversies.
Two years before Karl Malone made his NBA debut, the then-20-year-old had impregnated a 13-year-old girl, for which he wasn't charged as Malone wouldn't be able to provide child support from jail.
The gasp from the audience was palpable when Bo mentioned Karl Malone impregnating a literal child. I’m surprised how many people don’t know this about him.
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However, Malone didn't take responsibility for his son and met him when he was a 17-year-old graduate from high school. The former Jazz player later agreed to a settlement that denied him from admitting that he was the child's father.
NBA fans were infuriated about the league honoring Malone, despite his damning actions that were simply unacceptable.