Aug. 13, 2010
RUSTON, La. - When most people think of Louisiana Tech legend Karl Malone, they think of the two MVP's, the 13 NBA All-Star game appearances, the two Olympic gold medals and being the second all-time leading scorer in NBA history. Or as Tech fans remember him, the man who led the Bulldogs to a 29-3 record and an appearance in the 1985 NCAA Sweet 16.
When former Utah Jazz executive and head coach Frank Layden thinks about the career of Malone, thoughts of compassion and generosity flow through his mind.
After a second-straight NBA Finals loss to the Chicago Bulls in 1998, Malone and his wife, Kay, invited Layden to their brand new home in Salt Lake City to see their new baby girl, Karlee. Layden had fallen ill earlier in the day, but Malone insisted that he and his wife, Barbara, come to the house for lunch. Layden finally agreed and after taking a quick tour, the two Utah legends spent the afternoon discussing the familiar topic of basketball as well as the upcoming Olympics.
As Layden prepared to leave, Malone handed him a card. He opened the card and it read, "Thanks for all you've done for me." It was a Father's Day card.
"It was a very touching moment and everybody was crying," Layden said.
When Layden opened the front door, sitting in the driveway was a brand new Toyota Avalon with a giant bow on it. Malone handed Layden the keys and said, "Happy Father's Day. Thanks for all you did for me."
To this day, 12 years later, Barbara Layden still drives that same car.
"It was a very nice gesture," Layden said. "You don't get a lot of thanks from athletes. He wanted to do something for me."
Such gesture's came throughout the duo's stay in Salt Lake City. When Layden, the 1984 NBA Coach of the Year and NBA Executive of the Year, retired from the game in 1999, Malone honored him by writing the number Layden had worn as a player at Niagara on his shoe for the remainder of the season.
"He has those gestures," Layden said. "I have had so many times where people have come up to me and said, `do you know what Karl Malone did?' He helped out families, all with little fanfare."
Fanfare for Malone came on draft night, when the Summerfield native fell later in the draft than most expected. He was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft by Layden's Jazz. With Layden nearing his retirement from coaching, the thought of extending his career to have to opportunity to coach Malone was never a viable option.
"I kind of had my mind made up on where I was going and when I was going to hand the team off," said Layden, who coached Malone for four seasons before retiring as head coach in 1989 to serve as team president and general manager. "Jerry Sloan was ready to move up and take over. I never thought that `I'm going to hang on because of a player and extend my career.' Plus I enjoyed him more from the stands than the bench because I wasn't emotionally involved."
One time in Abuquerque, N.M., Malone's kindness combined with his well-known toughness. Layden, post-retirement, was enjoying an NBA exhibition game from the stands. In the first half, Malone's middle finger was bent backwards. In the locker room, the team doctors looked at it and said that they needed to get him to the hospital. However, Malone grabbed his middle and index fingers and said, "Tape those two together. I'm going to play."
Although the trainer said he couldn't go back on the floor, Malone said, "Hey these people paid a lot of money to see me play, and they are not going to see me again. Just tape them up. I'll play the second half."
"Whether it was a game, scrimmage or practice, he came to play everyday," Layden said. "In the weight room when he saw a guy sloughing off, he got on him. More than once he got on a player's back for not putting out the right effort. It was because of that effort that we had very physical scrimmages. They would play like it was the NBA Finals."
Despite being a three-time All-American at Louisiana Tech, one flaw in Malone's game early in his career was free throw shooting. He shot 57 percent his third and final season for the Bulldogs and as a rookie for the Jazz, The Mailman delivered at the line just 48 percent of the time. His aggressive style of play and physical nature allowed him to get to the charity strip frequently, which was a cause for concern for Layden.
"I told him at the end of his rookie season, `You just can't just grab offensive rebounds and muscle your way back up all the time. You have to work on a midrange game and a jumpshot. But when you get fouled you have to take it to the line and hit free throws. Then they will back off of you because they don't want to foul you, then the game will come a little easier to you.'"
Layden brought in a long-time friend who was a coach on the East coast and an expert in foul shooting. He worked with Malone, and it didn't take long for the NBA All-Rookie team member to catch on. The following year, Malone improved to 59 percent and ended his 19-year NBA career as a 74 percent free throw shooter. Layden was right about the game coming easier as his scoring average improved from 14.8 points a game as a rookie to 21.7 in his second season.
"I think that made opponents play him differently," Layden said. "I think that changed his attitude toward the game."
With a kind heart, self-instilled toughness and incredible work ethic, Layden has no problem calling the 2010 Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer his all-time favorite player.
"I don't know if I can remember him ever having a bad game," Layden said. "Never was there a game where he didn't give it everything he had. His effort was always there. He just got better and better every year. He was an extraordinary athlete."
Whether it's giving Layden a Father's Day card, a needy person or family a helping hand, or his team every ounce of effort that he had, Karl Malone has always delivered.
