"We play a physical game, but some things don't have a place" - When Karl Malone went off on Kenyon Martin's flagrant foul against him

There is no question that there was a time when NBA basketball was highly physical. Hard fouls were meted out, and sometimes, the intention to hurt a player purposely could not be ruled out.

Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz had his share of hard fouls in his prime. However, 'The Mailman' knows the fine line between a foul and intent to stop or hurt him. One such instance happened in December 2001 when the Jazz were playing the New Jersey Nets.

Dubious K-Mart foul

Malone was driving to the basket on a fastbreak in the fourth quarter but was inadvertently clotheslined by Kenyon Martin . The foul resulted in the two-time NBA MVP falling face-first on the floor. K-Mart was assessed a flagrant foul for his actions. He also drew a $7,500 fine and was suspended for one game.

Although Karl admitted that they played a physical game, a line was drawn. Preferring not to delve into it further, the 14-time All-Star left the incident to the league's handling.

"We play a physical game, but some things don't have a place," Malone said via UPI . "I don't have anything to say about it. It will be interesting to see what happens,"

Regardless, Malone was tough as nails; he went on to continue playing for the Jazz , finishing with 31 points and 8 rebounds as Utah defeated New Jersey 104-90. For his part, Martin had a poor outing, finishing with just 7 points and 5 assists.

Martin regretted hit on Malone

Martin admitted that he wasn't one of the nicest players on the court. He was aware that he talked a lot and got a lot of technical fouls. He explains that it was his personality never to back down. But as far as that hit on Malone, the Cincinnati product regretted it .

"I once punched Karl Malone in a game for no real reason. I'm not sorry for most of my fights because I believe in standing up when I'm tested. But I feel bad about that one," Martin wrote in The Players' Tribune .

Martin was only in his second year in the league when that incident happened. At the time, he was a young and fierce competitor who could also put up good numbers for the Nets . He spent four seasons in New Jersey, owning career averages of 15.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks.

It would be interesting to see today's players in a foul situation like Malone and Martin's. K-Mart would be looking for a fine and much longer pause from the NBA games, but basketball was different at that time.

Related: Kenyon Martin on iconic 2002 NBA Finals photo with Shaq dunking on five Nets players: "That picture right there is how the series went"