Basketball legend Karl Malone made headlines during the recently-concluded NBA All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City. The Utah Jazz Hall of Famer is widely considered one of the greatest players in the franchise’s history. He was honored at halftime of the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night, alongside Los Angeles Lakers icons LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. However, Malone’s prominence during the weekend also brought to light a highly controversial scandal involving Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, and the former NBA star.
A recent report brought to light Malone’s allegedly inappropriate behavior towards Vanessa way back in 2004. At the time, Karl was Kobe’s teammate with the Lakers, and the pair formed a close bond both on and off the court. However, Kobe felt “very hurt and betrayed” when he learned about Malone’s indiscretion.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, who at the time served as Kobe’s agent, revealed the details of the incident as well as the aftermath of what turned out to be a high-profile falling apart not only between Kobe and Malone, but their families as well. During a Lakers home game against the Bucks on November 23, 2004, Malone allegedly made advances towards Vanessa. When she called him out on it, Malone’s response was, “If you do that it will be on the cover of every magazine in the country.” Vanessa felt uncomfortable, and Malone continued to flirt with her.
Malone supposedly took it a step further as he asked Vanessa if she could keep a secret, to which Vanessa replied that she was a married woman, and Malone was a married man who was old enough to be her father. Malone responded, “Oh, like your daddy?” At the end of the game, Vanessa walked Malone’s son back to him, where he made another inappropriate comment, saying, “I’m hunting for young Mexican girls.”
Vanessa told Kobe about the incident on their way home. Kobe called Malone immediately, and while Malone did not deny the incident, his only response was, “You know me, man.” The next day, with all four of them on the phone, Malone denied the incident. The Bryants knew that there was nothing left to talk about since they knew Malone wasn’t telling the truth.
Karl Malone’s status as one of the greatest basketball players of all time cannot be denied. However, this is not the only controversy he has been involved in over the years. Whether true or not, the fact that he has been linked to such scandalous behavior speaks volumes about the type of person he truly is. The resurfacing of this Karl Malone sexual harassment scandal is unfortunate, and it serves as a reminder that even those we admire may have skeletons in their closet.
I believe there is a difference between “ I am hunting for young Mexican girls” than “ I am hunting for little Mexican girls”. What he really did say buddy? Make up your mind.
That man had crosses burned in his yard. In Utah.I digress.
Shame! shame! on Karl.
The flesh is weak,it’s our sin nature that causes people to act inappropriately