Isiah Thomas THINKS Karl Malone was the REASON the Jazz NEVERR Won a Championship!  

I love how they say Jordan played against plumbers, when here he faced a Top 5 Point Guard and a Top 5 Power Forward of all time.

MJ was the reason why Malone doesn't have a ring.

It was more Karl Malone's lack of courage that left him ring less. He even said that he's "afraid to fail", which is a problem coming from your best player. He showed this down the stretch in games.

Honestly, I find blaming his teammates to be a copout. Looking at every game from both Finals in which Utah lost by 5 points or less, Jordan outscores Malone by 8, 19, 18, 21, 13 & 14 points respectively. That's an _AVERAGE_ of 15.5 PPG; Utah lost these games by a _TOTAL_ of 18 points. If Malone's supporting cast was so much worse than MJ's, the Bulls would have been winning these games by huge margins, not by 1 or 2 baskets.

Its not the box score free throws its the lack of agressiveness inside because you are afraid of getting fouled. Settling for jump shots and not getting the defense to close out and get easier shots for your teamates all because you dont want to go to the free throw line.

Watch this Next! Nobody Fears Lebron!! Sheesh! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4g_lIi65RpU.html&ab_channel=HoopinnCookin

LOL Even if the Bulls lost game 6, Jordan would've taken it in game 7. He never lost 3 games in a row since before they won their first chip.

people forget how crucial free throws are bro like its not like he was knocking the predator as a player or anything

Jazz needed a no.2 scorer. If they had a 2nd option over Stockton I believe they would've beat the Bulls. They were clearly better than the Bulls with Pippen hurt and MJ being the only true option for scoring.

It was a tough era. I remember in the 80s Utah lost to the showtime Lakers in 7. They lost to Kemp's Sonics in 7. MJ's Bulls twice. Olajuwan's Rockets, Barkley's Suns.

Age was the reason in this case. Utah was old, Malone, Stockton, Hornacek and Antoine Carr all 34 and 35 years old when they played bulls these finals ( Bulls were old too, I know ) . They did go 12 - 2 before the finals both years vs young Kobe, prime Shaq and Duncan sweeping the floor with them proving how much better 1980s players were than anybody that came after them. In the 80s when they were in their prime they couldn't get past Magic. So those are the main reasons. If they played today they'd go 82 - 0 for 15 seasons in a row and 16-0 in the playoffs winning 15 championships in a row.

Excellent analysis. Total team turnovers were the downfall of the Utah Jazz. And that was credited to the Bulls at times playing suffocating defense when making important stops. One bright moment from Karl Malone was when he made huge clutch baskets at the end of game-5 preventing the Bulls from closing out the series. And game-6 as mentioned, Malone was tearing up the Bulls defense by himself for most of the game. Unfortunately, MJ being MJ made Malone turnover the ball at the end of game 6. The Jazz should have beaten the Bulls in the 1998 NBA Finals. That's what makes MJ the GOAT. MJ practically carried the Bulls team offensively on his back in the 4th quarter of game 6.

basketball gods were bias to MJ and the Bulls

K m great period

MJ's the reason.

I disagree. If they ever had a good center they would have won at least one championship.

Main man always has to hit free throws, especially in the clutch. No denying that.

No love for Howard Eisley? I aint buying that no help argument. Stockton was a 92 dream teamer, a top 10 point guard EVER. And Hornacek put up All Star numbers. Those Jazz teams didnt get out of the West and beating Shaq's Lakers TWICE to do it without Malone having exceptional help.

I wanted the Jazz to beat the Bulls because of the work ethic of Karl Malone and John Stockton. The Jazz always seemed to lose the close games and in the five game series always seemed to lead 2-0 and lose 2-3. I believe the Jazz needed a more consistent third star.

Karl had 31 but King MJ had 45 and the game winner

Intelligence: Nobody is looking at the reality of the game from an intelligence standpoint ..... How did the Pistons win back-to-back titles? ... They were clutch at the line, they knew how to get to the line, they made foul shots because the game is a chess-match and most of those games come down to a possession or two and/or a key stop. How did the Bulls win? It wasn't because of 'Jordan' but what did Jordan do? He made his foul shots in pressure situations, he knew how to get to the line when the offense was struggling and he made foul shots, both 6 game series vs. Utah in 1997 and 1998 but what happened in '97 game 5? What about game 1 in 1997? .... Utah didn't know how to execute under pressure and that's a leadership problem -- fade away jumpers or jumpers by Malone instead of attacking the rim, going to the line, and knocking down the foul shots. Now in '98, you saw Chicago up 3-1 and Utah had to win game 5 and what happened in game 6? Wasn't Utah up late and then Jordan made that lay-up then Malone had the ball and got stripped, he couldn't even get off a shot because he was weak-minded and yet again, the geometry of the game Utah lacked; you always get your opponents' best defensive players away from your strengths and the Jazz didn't do this throughout because they were NOT INTELLIGENT .... Look at why the Knicks, Pacers, Jazz, and others could not beat the Bulls -- it was NOT Jordan, it was HOW Chicago ran their offense spacing the floor, creating angles on the court, making the defense work on every possession due to Chicago's offensive spacing and they didn't rely on guys going one-on-one to get a shot on possessions, even though they had Jordan and Kukoc who could create shots well and Pippen at times .... You never saw Steve Kerr, Ron Harper, Pippen, Luc Longley, or other Bulls' players go one-on-one to get off good shots; your half court offense has to free up your players and great players create offense like Jordan and Kukoc and then your front court guys have to be able to finish around the rim and knock down foul shots -- that's how you win; this is how the Isiah Thomas-led Pistons were able to beat the Bulls but other teams were not capable.

Everyone like to talk about Hornacek because he looks funny but he was dominant at times! also Stockton is right behind Magic & Isiah for the best point guards of the era. They were just unlucky they had to go up against the bulls (just like the suns, magic, knicks etc.)

Stockton and horna were too short

Stop making excuses, that team in any other era gets 2 rings, they could sweep the lakers they beat the Rockets but had the bad luck of matching the Bulls. Isaiah Thomas will say anything against the GOAT

The 13 years old Girl ist the reason

Says the guy who ran the Knicks into the ground, CBA into the ground, unsuccessful in Toronto & Indiana...

Isaiah was right.

Real reason is MJ. Isaiah who?

I agree with it.I agree with that Carl Malone was just bad luck.Then he brought that bad luck to l a with him

They were good enough to beat the Bulls; but the Refs had other plans !!

Isiah always talking crap about others but he has totally no insight into his own short comings as a human!

Isiah Thomas is one of my all time favorite point guards, 2nd only to Magic Johnson. But Karl Malone and Company just couldn't get past Michael Jordan and The Bulls in 97 & 98. Definitely stll some bad blood there after Isiah got those 40 stiches courtesy of that elbow by the Mailman. I don't blame Zeke though that elbow was deliberate.

Malone and Stockton had Ostertag, Hornacek, and Russell. Jordan and Pippen had Rodman, Kukoc, and Harper. You tell me who had the better supporting cast. And, somehow, Malone was the problem? That's laughable. Zeke knows better. He just doesn't like Karl.

I don't think he's that far off

What about Steph Curry? Game 7, last 4 minutes he bricks three 3 pointers, commits a pathetic turnover on a behind the back pass and misses a lay up. He sucks, the Warriors are lucky Kyrie Irving was injured for their first championship and even luckier that Durant saved the franchise and won two more championships for them. And if it wasn't for Wiggins and Poole for the fourth title we would all be talking about how Curry, Thompson and Green are the greatest trio to never a championship.

This is one of the dumbest takes I've ever heard.

The Bulls

Shaq coulnt shoot free throws

said it a bunch Malone was not a no 1 option on a championship team was too scared to make mistakes and ended up makin mistakes

I believe it was bad karma. Child molesters don't deserve to win championships. As far as I'm concerned Karl should have been in prison , not in the NBA

I think your turnover numbers are a little off.

Malone was a choke artist smh john stockton sent them to the finals.

Who cares what Isiah freaking sais he's why the dream team was badass he wasn't on it!!!

Malone didn't win because of his playing in the JORDAN ERA

I think they just got beat…

Isiah is a mouth runner always talking garbage about those better than him.

Isaiah just be sitting at home dreaming of shit to troll other players. MJ destroyed all of you, that’s why you never won more rings. Incl the pistons w/ Isaiah

Please 🖐️

Why so triggered

Thomas hates everyone

🗣️I BLAME JOHN STOCKTON ' S LACK OF OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION FOR THE JAZZ LOSING BOTH FINALS . TO ME JOHN STOCKTON NEEDED TO AVG. AT LEAST 20 PTS. TO G🟢 ALONG WITH AT 10 AST. I DEFINTELY , AGREE WITH ISAIH THOMAS WHEN HE SAID THIS ABOUT JOHN STOCKTON . " IF JOHN STOCKTON WAS A SCORER AS MUCH , AS HE WAS A PASSER . THEN I BELIEVE , THAT THE UTAH JAZZ W🟢ULD HAVE 1 ONE CHAMPI🏆NSHIP .>🎤 🏀🗑️🤾⛹️

Without Malone Jazz wouldn’t do shit

That's what 40 stitches will do to a man's view

The Jazz just couldn't deliver in BIG Games decided by a few points. They would make turnovers instead of game winning plays.

1:55 is disingenuous. Isiah made the initial statement BEFORE they squashed their beef, not after. Don't do Zeke like that.

In the WCF, this was a Utah Jazz team who swept a 61-21 Lakers with 4 all-stars in Shaq, Van Exel, Jones, and Kobe.

The Mailman And Utah? The oldest post office Salem. It was a log cabin. The Jazz moved to Utah 6/8/1979.

They would have never been in a position to win a ring without Karl Malone the mailman made that team go

After Detroits' roster was dismantled by injuries(just like the Celtics' were)and Jack Mc Closkeys' BONE-headed trades,there was no team LEFT to defeat David Sterns' "money-ho"/Michael Jordan!! All the teams Jordan beat for his rings' were NOBODY,starting with a hobbled-Magic,no Byron Scott and Kareem-less Lakers team!! Detroit was demoralizing the Jazz,Suns and Trailblazers on a REGULAR basis throughout the season!!

If not for Karl Malone, those Jazz teams wouldn't even make the playoffs. Isiah Thomas has a long record of making foolish comments, like agreeing with the buffoon, Dennis Rodman, that Larry Bird was overrated because he was white, and that LeBron James is the GOAT, over Michael Jordan. He's likely bitter that Malone was on the 92 Dream Team, and he wasn't, although I also think it's a total joke John Stockton made the team, and Thomas was denied. But, get over it, Isiah!

Zek is Correct The Mailman Missed Free throws when it Counted

Malone just wasn't cluth period..they had plenty of opportunities he wad their best player and just couldn't get it done

MJ and Hakeem are the reasons.

Thomas is right to extend. The biggest mistake Jazz made was not trading for decent SF and not running more plays for Stockton, especially in the crucial fourth quarter. Malone was average not bad 75% free throws. If he improved a bit maybe, who knows what it will be the end result.

He pushed BR In Consecutive Seasons Shaq hit his free throws when it Counted that’s what Zek is talking about Cause didn’t nobody go to the Free throw line more than the Mailman

Let's be real. The jazz teams never had a third option. Everything ran through Stockton and Malone with that same ass pick and roll play. They were so predictable.

The push. Hey, it was Jordan. The NBA prized player, Supreme.

Isiah is so petty

I'm just gonna say this, cos it's true. Jordan was the nucleus of the Bulls. That's because he was always listening to his Coach. And another fact is this, Jordan could have never won a ring without Scottie, and the last three without Pip and Rodman. And his lo g ball shooting guards like Paxon and Steve, pr the great Tony whatever his last name is. The Bulls as a team had more talent than the big fella, Karl and his Robin, Stockton. All facts, all true.

Because of malone elbow, isaiah snitches.

The Jazz 2nd leading scorer averages 11ppg on 71% from the line. Starting C averages. 3ppg, 4rpg on 60%ft. Ostertag shot 48% ft back up pg 5pts, 4 assists, 29% 3pt 36% from field. Shandon Anderson 6 ppg, 67% from ft. 27%from 3. Adam Keefe avg 2 ppg, 2rpg on 34% fg percentage... Karl Malone was the weak link? LOLOL

Isiah was correct

You're the reason MJ's team beat the Pistons.....into oblivion.

I disagree with Isiah Thomas.

And he himself, Isiah was the reason he didn’t make the Dream Team😂😂😂

Simple. When Malone was aggressive and going to the hoop the jazz mostly won. When he relied on the jumper they mostly lost.

Look up Isaiah Thomas then Jermaine Jackson interview it's the same person

Stocktons short shorts! I’m dead

In 8 playoff losses against the Bulls Malone missed more free throws than the final margin 4 times. Three in the first series which cost them games and one in the second series which he was 9 for 11 from the line in a 1 point loss. You can blame losing the first series on his foul shooting and be 100% correct.

Good take, I agree, it wasn't Malone's free throw shooting, it was the Jazz came up a little bit short ....and it was definitely a push!