Utah Jazz Legend Karl Malone’s Top 10 Dunks In The Playoffs
Jun 8, 2020, 2:09 PM | Updated: Apr 26, 2021, 3:52 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone had plenty of impressive dunks in the postseason during his long tenure with the franchise.
The KSL SportsBeat team put together their top 5 dunks from the mailman in the postseason while KSLSports.com put together the “next five.”
KSLSports.com’s Next Five
10. 1996: Malone Glides Past David Robinson
In the Western Conference Semifinals series against the San Antonio Spurs, Malone had two separate occasions of driving past David Robinson for dunks or and-ones. The Jazz eliminated the Spurs in seven games.
In Game 6 of the 1996 NBA Playoffs, Karl Malone took it to David Robinson not once but twice!#TakeNote #KSLSportsArchive pic.twitter.com/TeTqGPn6MM
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 8, 2020
9. 1992: Malone’s Driving Dunk Into Lane, Putback Later
The Los Angeles Clippers were in town to start the 1992 NBA Playoffs when Malone had two great dunks. The first one was when he powered his way to the rim to punish the rim with a left-handed jam. Later, Malone slammed a putback jam off of a Stockton missed layup. The Jazz beat the Clippers 115-97 led by Malone’s 32 points and 10 rebounds. Utah eliminated the Clippers in five games.
In 1992, Karl Malone powered his way to punish the rim against the Clippers.
Later, Malone cleaned up a missed layup by John Stockton in the Game 1 victory.#TakeNote #KSLSportsArchive pic.twitter.com/6eLmpeEzk3
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 8, 2020
8. 1992: Malone’s Nasty Jam Against Sonics
It was Game 4 of the 1992 Western Conference Semifinals in Seattle when Malone received the ball at the free throw line. The Mailman powered his way to the rim to finish with a monster dunk while getting fouled. The Jazz took a 3-1 series lead with an 89-83 road win. Malone had 22 points and 8 rebounds. Utah finished the series in Game 5 back in Salt Lake City.
This dunk by Malone in Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Playoffs was FILTHY!#TakeNote #KSLSportsArchive pic.twitter.com/MBGnEblV3d
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 8, 2020
7. 1991: Malone Soars To One-Handed Jam Against Suns
In Game 4 of the first round of the 1991 NBA Playoffs, Malone soared over defenders and threw down a big one-handed dunk against the Phoenix Suns. The Jazz beat the Suns 101-93 to advance to the second round. Malone had a tremendous game with 38 points and 13 rebounds.
The Mailman delivered this beautiful dunk against the Phoenix Suns in the 1991 NBA Playoffs. The Jazz went on to win the game and the series.#TakeNote #KSLSportsArchive pic.twitter.com/YC9p3K8u7U
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 8, 2020
6. 1992: Malone’s Athletic One-Handed Putback Against Sonics
In Game 1 of the second round of the 1992 NBA Playoffs, Malone made an athletic play. Stockton passed the ball to Jeff Malone in the paint where he missed his short fadeaway jumper when Karl Malone was there to collect the ball and throw down a right-handed slam. The Jazz beat the Seattle Supersonics 108-100. Malone finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Utah beat Seattle in five games to advance to the Western Conference Finals where they lost to the Portland Trail Blazers in six games.
Check out this athletic play by Karl Malone. He jumps up and collects the miss and finishes with a one-handed slam in the 1992 Playoffs against Seattle.#TakeNote #KSLSportsArchive pic.twitter.com/cq61Z8oNXv
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 8, 2020
SportsBeat Top 5
5. 1987: Malone Clinches Game 2 With A Putback Dunk
In the 1987 NBA Playoffs, the Utah Jazz squared off with the Golden State Warriors. It was Game 2 of the series at the Salt Palace when Malone collected a missed layup and threw it down for a putback dunk. Fans showed up for the dunk and stayed for the dance by Malone. The Mailman recorded 22 points and 13 rebounds in the 103-100 win to lead the series 2-0. Unfortunately, the Warriors won the next three games to take the series.
4. 1990: Malone Dunks All Over The Suns
Three years later, Malone was flying down the lane when he threw down a big dunk over Andrew Lang and Kurt Rambis and the Phoenix Suns in the first round, Game 1 of the 1990 NBA Playoffs. The Jazz smashed the Suns 113-96 led by Malone’s 21 points and 11 boards. The Suns eventually won the series in five games.
3. 1988: Malone Dunks On AC Green
In the second round of the 1988 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers, Malone had many great dunks in that series. Number 3 on this list featured Malone driving past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to meet A.C. Green at the rim when Malone threw down a left-handed dunk over Green in Game 3 in Salt Lake City. Utah won the game 96-89 after Malone dropped 29 points and 13 rebounds. The Lakers won the series in seven games.
2. 1988: Malone Puts It Back Over Mychal Thompson
In Game 2 of the Jazz/Lakers series, John Stockton drove to the basket on the left side when he missed the layup but Malone leaped over Mychal Thompson to finish the putback jam. The Jazz beat the Lakers at the Forum 101-97 to tie the series at one game apiece heading back to Salt Lake City. Malone had 29 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
1. 1988: Karl Dunks On Kareem
In Game 4 of the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers, Karl Malone threw down a monster dunk over Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. It was a very impressive dunk by the Mailman despite the Jazz losing the game 113-100. Malone finished with 29 points and 11 rebounds. The Lakers tied the series 2-2 after the Game-4 win and eventually took the series by winning Game 7.