"They were hacking, chopping, and getting away with it. We just started to do the same" - Karl Malone on how the Jazz fought back to even the 1996 WC Finals

Karl Malone received hard fouls and was involved in many physical plays during his time in the league. Regardless, “The Mailman” took all that, aware that it was something that he had to get used to when he started his NBA career with the Utah Jazz.

In the 1996 Western Conference Finals, the Louisiana Tech forward knew he had to fight back. The Jazz were up against the Seattle Supersonics at the time and needed to pull out all the stops to stave off elimination.

Let’s get physical

Utah found themselves in a 1-3 hole at one point in that series. Somehow, Malone and company managed to claw back into it. In Game 6, Karl admitted that they resorted to playing physical to give the Sonics a dose of their own medicine. The Jazz won and, more importantly, tied that series to force a winner-take-all Game 7.

“They were hacking, chopping, and getting away with it. We just started to do the same things, and now we're even,” the 13th overall pick of the 1985 Draft said via UPI .

At the time, the Jazz were trying to become the sixth team to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, and the second part of the reward was a ticket to the 1996 NBA Finals against the Michael Jordn-led Chicago Bulls.

“We just knew we had to win two to force a Game Seven, and now we've done that,” the All-Star forward added.

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Adapting to the physicality

The 1990s were marked by intense physical play, which Malone embraced despite criticism from some opponents. One typically reserved player who voiced his disapproval of the two-time NBA MVP's style was San Antonio Spurs' David Robinson.

“The Admiral” took exception to the “kick” Malone did when he took running jump shots. Although D-Rob admitted he is used to getting his share of kicks, he feels that it is a dangerous move that could seriously hurt any player.

“The man drives in and kicks me, and that’s the only contact on the play,” Robinson said . “He kicks me in the groin, and I get the foul. I don’t think that’s the way it should be.”

Many players openly shared their opinions about the 6-foot-9 All-Star, but Malone played in a tough era where opponents often employed their own "dirty" tactics on the court and exploited the aggressiveness that was allowed.

Malone’s alleged kick can be considered as some protection and a warning to players. But as far as intentionally hurting players, such didn’t appear to be in “The Mailman’s” bag of tricks.

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