When we think of Karl Malone, the image of a player who is the third all-time leading scorer comes to mind. The Utah Jazz legend is undeniably one of the best players ever. However, few NBA players hold a darker past than Malone.
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Malone hasn’t been a topic of conversation for quite some time. But Richard Jefferson brought him up in a recent debate on the Road Trippin’ podcast, comparing him to his legendary counterparts at the power forward position. In the comparison between Malone and Charles Barkley, the former NBA champion sided with Malone.
“The reason why I would pick Karl Malone over Charles is because [of] the level of professionalism that Karl Malone always approached,” Jefferson said.
The Utah star’s storied career, however, has been tainted, and Jefferson seemed to have either overlooked that or not known it at all. Such seems to have been the case with Patrick Beverly, too. Malone allegedly impregnated a 13-year-old girl while he was a 20-year-old at Louisiana Tech University, though charges of statutory rape were not filed. Paternity tests revealed +99% certainty that Malone was the father.
The child, Demetress Bell, born in 1984, went on to become an NFL offensive lineman. While people have always doubted the legitimacy of the events, Malone finally acknowledged Bell as his son in 2018.
And when Patrick Beverley discovered this during a discussion about Malone on a recent episode of The Pat Bev Podcast, he was left speechless for several seconds.
Beverley and his co-host Rone were deliberating on an all-time NBA draft when the three-time All-Defensive Team member selected Malone. Rone shared his confusion regarding Beverley’s willingness to take Malone despite his off-court issues.
Beverley had no idea what Rone was talking about, which led to the bombshell moment.
“When you say 13-year-old pregnant, was he 16?” Beverley asked. Unfortunately, the former Los Angeles Clippers guard found out that Malone was an adult at the time of the alleged incident.
“I need a f****** time out!” Beverley said, as the disgust and shock became apparent in his facial expressions. “I didn’t even know this,” Beverley proclaimed. “That’s my thing. I didn’t know this at all.”
Despite 12 years in the NBA, Beverley spent his entire time in the league unaware of one of the biggest scandals by an athlete in the association’s history. Beverley’s reaction has gone viral, making even more people aware of Malone’s past.
