While Malone by far had the better career, if you compare them at their absolute 2 to 3 yr peaks, Charles was greatly superior. You could probably make the argument that at his peak, Charles was better than any other power forward in NBA history. The season in which he shot .67% from the field ranks amongst the best single seasons by an individual in league history.
hahah i'm sorry but i bet that if malone wasn't chasing his ring and wasn't chasing for the all time scoring crown, he'd be retired as well. and like others have said, barkley was 6'4" rolleyes: ) and he was manning that PF position with the best of them. he wasn't a jump shooting 6'10" PF like Webber...he actually played down low. that's why i give him and Rodman a lot of credit for playing PF. and malone should ask Shaq whether or not Barkley is good (see Lakers/Rockets game when Barkley took Shaq down)
Right now, I'd kill to have a Barkley at 75% of what he was his last year before he got hurt. He'd still be 75% better than the guys we have now.
Malone've often let teammates create for him throughout his career. First the guards in Utah and now Shaq and Kobe. Barkley always created for others with his dominance in the post. Malone hasn't been as dominant as a Charles Barkley in prime. Malone in his prime is just Dirk plus with an elbow. Barkley in his prime is like Dream II with better fg%, passing but worse defense.
I hate Malone in the way that I hated KJ, MJ and even Barkley. However, I'll never sleep on Karla's NBA career. Mr. Durability we are talking about here. He is among a less than handful of 40 year olds who can even think about stepping out on court without leaving in a gurney. Yeah he has a nasty physical aspect of his game. That probably has been more evident as he's gotten older, and scored less. John Stockton certainly had a positive effect on his scoring, however, give the man credit for making the baskets. As Robinson is to San Antonio, Malone is to Utah. Period. Malone's relationship with Larry Miller was often rocky, but Miller wouldn't even trade the man. (How many past and current players can say that?) Karla left as a free agent because he knew the run for a ring was over in Utah. Say what you want about his dirty play, but he's no thug off the court....for the most part considered a model citizen in Utah and the kind of person the NBA wishes most of it's players would emulate (in terms of charity and community involvement). Hate to have to toot his horn, but please break the man off his props.
Chuckles was better his entire career until he got old. Malone got better as a player as he got older, and surpassed Barkley. Karl is finally showing his age. I am ready for him to (a) NOT win the elusive ring and (b) to hang 'em up. His time is passed!
Do we have selective memory? Barkley can't play defense. Malone can't jump. Neither got a ring on their own.
Selective memory? Barkley was a freak with what he could, and did, do to affect the outcome of the game for 10 - 12 years. In a way that's like what Earvin Johnson was, a freak who affected the outcome of the game. CB could do everything on the court, except play D. He rebounded and worked and hustled and splayed bodies in his path. He was awesome. He was justifyably mentioned with the greatest 4's of All-Time. For years he may have been the best (I still vote McHale #1 at All Time 5s). But CB was CB's worst enemy. He got worn out and old, too taken with himself. Along about the mid '90s Malone finally started to catch Barkley. By '97 he surpassed Chuckles. We may all loathe 'Karla', but the man's work ethic is super. Superior. We may all loathe 'Karla's elbows and knees and (unnecessary) dirty play, but the man is a smart player. Only now at age 280-something (in dog years, the mongrel) is he starting to show that he is wearing out, becoming just a jump shooter and pick thrower (with the knees and elbows, of course).
The Rockets traded defense for offense when they got Barkley and they got burned for it against Utah, a team they always beat before he got here. And you're right, its not close to the same situation considering Malone is now 40 and Barkley was still in his early thirties when he got to Houston.
Willis on Malone and Barkley on Russell...let Russell beat you...would have been a better set up for Rudy and the Rox in '97. AND -- if they, the Good Guys, the Rox, had put away the Sonics early, and they coulda/shoula the Rox would have been unlikely to drop the 1st two v Jazz. The Rox should have put Game 6 away, too, and those Rox in Game 7s were 'lights out', kiss'o'death good!
Malone is a much better passer and defender than Dirk. And Dirk is a much better shooter. This is the first time I heard someone compare Malone with Dirk. Two totally different players.
I'd say Malone is jealous because Barkley is adored across the league and nation, while Karl is arguably the most hated figure in all of sports.
Its really a question of what is greater? A sustained, consistent very good player over a long time period and career? or a: Volatile player who at times was an explosive force that dominated games for a shorter time and that was plagued with injuries? Barkley was dominant at times. He was UNSTOPPABLE on the boards, and would not step down. I have yet to see Malone truly take over a game, even in the playoff runs to the finals. He has always been very good, but never great. Except KJ for a little while (though KJ was more injury prone than barkley) Barkley never had a team around him or another great player. When he had a healthy KJ he went to the finals. Malone had some strength on those teams and Stockton, who I consider one of the top 5 PG's ever.
