Utah Jazz flashback: That time Karl Malone pancaked Isiah Thomas

27 years ago, Utah Jazz star Karl Malone leveled the Detroit Pistons’ Isiah Thomas with what some have labeled one of the dirtiest shots in league history.

When I arrived at my place of employment on Wednesday, I was thrilled to discover the kitchen was serving up a special batch of chicken and waffles. The reason — September 26 is apparently National Pancake Day. Actual pancakes may have been more apropos, but I’ll take what I can get. In any case, the “holiday” gives us a chance to remember one of the more infamous plays in Utah Jazz history.

Specifically, the time “The Mailman” Karl Malone pancaked Detroit Pistons star Isiah Thomas with a vicious elbow to the eye.

It happened on December 14 of 1991 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. At the time, the Jazz were sitting at 14-9 and looking to take their place among the league’s elite. Meanwhile, the Pistons, who were 18 months removed from winning the title and a summer out from reaching the East finals, were under .500 and approaching the end of an era.

For very different reasons, it was a big game for both sides.

It was not only a chance for the Jazz to put a major feather in their cap, but an opportunity for payback as well. Two weeks into the ’91-92 season, the Pistons had beaten the Jazz up at the Palace of Auburn Hills; Thomas dropped 44 in a 123-115 Detroit win. Also — six technical fouls were assessed in the game and Jazz coach Jerry Sloan got into it with Dennis Rodman.

Clearly, a scuffling Detroit squad wanted to show they were still the Bad Boys of old. Limping into Salt Lake City at 10-14 and having already suffered a five-game losing streak in the early season, another win would do just that.

Five minutes into the rematch, all hell broke lose.

With the score level at six apiece, Thomas brought the ball into the frontcourt and initiated screen-roll action with Bill Laimbeer. John Stockton got hung up on the pick and Jazz big man Mark Eaton was late to help, leaving a path to the hoop for a streaking Isiah. Only Malone stood between him and the tin.

Seconds later, Thomas’ back was flat on the hardwood and his eye was spurting blood, courtesy of Malone. Here’s the tape, via KSL —

The benches cleared, words were exchanged and a punch or two may have been thrown in the immediate aftermath of the play. Pistons guard Darrell Walker was ejected for trying to sneak a hit in on Malone. Moments later, Malone was also sent off the floor.

Utah would eventually prevail in the game, winning 102-100 thanks to a 26-point, eight-rebound night from Jeff Malone. However, the other Malone would eventually incur a $10,000 fine and a one-game suspension. As for Thomas, the future Hall of Famer received 40 stitches at the nearby LDS Hospital. He would return to play the contest’s final six minutes, but it was too little, too late for the Pistons.

After the game, Malone said the hit was unintentional; Laimbeer thought otherwise.

From the Deseret News —

"“That was basically a premeditated situation. Why? Because he lit them up for 44 last time and [Malone] didn’t want to embarrass Stockton again.”"

Pistons coach Chuck Daly echoed those sentiments and also called the foul “vicious.”

We may never know what Malone’s true intent was on that fateful night in ’91. What we do know is that, even now, there seems to be lingering bad blood between Malone and Thomas.

In 2014, Thomas still took issue with the play. “It was horrific,” he told the Detroit News. “That was the cheapest [expletive] in my mind in the history of the game.” He also called Malone the “weakest link” on the Jazz’s NBA Finals teams of ’97 and ’98 on an episode of NBA TV’s Open Court.

Malone responded to the latter commentary as follows during an interview on 1280 AM The Zone in Salt Lake —

"“Well to me guys…is it relevant? Is it relevant for me to discuss what he said about me? I’m just gonna say ‘he,’ I’m not even gonna say his first name because he is irrelevant to me. By me calling his name, it will give him a little justification in existence. So I’m not getting .. I’m not even discussing that fella.”"

Malone continued —

"“He’s not even relevant to me, and I let my play speak for itself. I’m not even gonna stoop to those levels. Hopefully he’s enjoying his retirement life, or lack thereof; who knows? Happy Thanksgiving to the fella.”"

On that note — Happy International Pancake Day! Hopefully, yours doesn’t include 40 stitches…or waffles.