Game 3 of the 1997 NBA Finals in Salt Lake City highlighted why Karl Malone ranks among the league’s all-time greats. The Utah Jazz forward poured in 37 points against the Chicago Bulls, doing so not only on basketball’s biggest stage but also while facing one of the game’s toughest defenders, Dennis Rodman.
It was an incredible performance and Bulls superstar Michael Jordan, ever the competitor, didn’t just notice — he recognized it plainly.
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MVP-worthy performance
Game 3 of that iconic Finals series was Malone at his best. The Jazz forward had won the Most Valuable Player award a few months earlier amid ongoing debate that Jordan of the Bulls might have deserved it more.
That discussion continues today, but The Mailman made a clear case for why he had earned the MVP on that night. On that night, Malone arrived at the Delta Center later than usual, just minutes before five, having taken the long way to the arena on his Harley-Davidson.
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“I needed a Harley ride today,” Malone said, noting that it was usually the perfect method to get him going for the battle. That preparation showed immediately, as the future Hall of Famer opened with a smooth 16-foot jumper on Utah’s first possession.
Not letting up a single bit, Chicago threw everyone at him. Still, the tactic, initiated by head coach Phil Jackson, had no success. Even Rodman, a seven-time NBA All-Defensive First Team honoree and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, struggled to slow Malone, who hit five of six shots in the paint in the first quarter while dominating the boards.
Even MJ was impressed
From finger-rolls and short hooks to finishing through contact, Malone orchestrated a masterful performance fueled by his early aggression and focus. His fast start set the tone, giving Utah a rhythm that the Bulls simply couldn’t disrupt.
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“Anytime Karl comes out and gets things going early, they’re almost impossible to stop,” Scottie Pippen later emphasized, highlighting how Malone’s first-quarter dominance lifted the entire Jazz team.
Jordan agreed, noting that the Bulls’ defense during the first half never adapted to Malone’s intensity, leaving the reigning MVP free to operate at will.
As soon as the second half rolled in, it looked keenly the same. “King Karl” dominated on both ends of the court and ultimately ended with 37 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and four steals, leading the contest in nearly every major stat.
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Malone’s dominance not only powered Utah to a 104-93 win — extending the Jazz’s home playoff record that year to 9-0 — but also drew high praise from Jordan when asked about Rodman’s failed attempt to contain him.
“He’s (Rodman) going against one of the 50 greatest players in the game — Karl Malone is not lunch meat,” explained Jordan, per ABC 7 Chicago.
Jordan’s assessment was accurate in every way. Malone was certainly no easy mark and his legacy as one of basketball’s all-time greats remains indisputable.
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The NBA formally recognized Malone’s impact in 2022 when he was included in the Top 75 Anniversary list, a lasting tribute to a player who thrived under the most challenging circumstances, as he demonstrated in that game against the Bulls.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 13, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.