We are January 27, 1990, the day after the revelation of the holders for the All-Star Game, and Karl Malone is furious! He was not chosen, and in his place, AC Green, the “Iron Man” of the Lakers who was selected. There is reason to be annoyed, and the “Mailman” will take revenge on the first opponent across his path. It will be the Bucks.
That year, the Malone-Stockton duo was at the top of its game: 31 points per game for Malone and 14.5 assists per game for Stockton, the best average in league history.
Very angry, Malone will squarely sign his career best with t 61 points at 80% (21/26) with a 19/23 in free throws, accompanied by 18 rebounds (9 offensive) and 3 steals.
Always well served by Stockton (16 assists), Malone imposes his power on the defense of the Bucks, rolled 144-96! As always, he is consistent with 30 points in the first half and 31 in the second period.
The performance takes on even more relief when we know that Malone only played 33 minutes, placing him in the very closed club of players who scored 60 points in less than 40 minutes in the company of George Gervin with 63 points in 33 minutes, in 1978, Kobe Bryant, repeat offender with in 2005 with his 62 points against Dallas in 33 minutes and then against New York in 2009 with 61 points in 37 minutes. And finally, Carmelo Anthony, author of 62 points in 39 minutes against the Bobcats in January 2014.
That season, Karl Malone will not play the All-Star Game claiming an injury. Two days after the star game, however, he will plant 40 points… He will end the season with 31 pts at 56% success rate and 11 rebounds per game, second best scorer in the league behind Michael Jordan. Huge stats but he will only finish 4th in the MVP vote, behind Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and Jordan.
