Utah Jazz: Ranking the team’s best-ever All-Star Weekend moments

CLEVELAND - FEBRUARY 9: Karl Malone #32 and John Stockton #12 of the Utah Jazz stand for the National Anthem during the 1997 NBA All-Star Game played on February 9, 1997 at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND - FEBRUARY 9: Karl Malone #32 and John Stockton #12 of the Utah Jazz stand for the National Anthem during the 1997 NBA All-Star Game played on February 9, 1997 at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Copyright 1997 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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1988 NBA All-Star Western Conference Karl Malone Magic Johnson Hakeem Olajuwon
CHICAGO, IL – 1988: The Western Conference All Star team poses for a portrait during the 1988 NBA All-Star Game on February 7, 1988 at the Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois. Copyright 1988 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

6) Karl Malone’s All-Star debut

Over the course of his lengthy and storied career, “The Mailman” Karl Malone was selected to play in a whopping 14 All-Star Games. That All-Star Legacy began during his third season with an All-Star appearance in Chicago in 1988.

Right from the jump, The Mailman established himself as a force in the game. He led the Western Conference in scoring and rebounding in the game, putting up a double-double performance with 22 points and 10 boards. However, in a preview of things to come, he was thwarted in the Windy City by Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls.

His Airness dropped 40 points in the game to lead the East to a 138-133 win.

Still, Malone was able to announce himself as the league’s next elite big man with an incredible All-Star debut.