"He's from the old school. He didn't say much when he was on the court. He didn't have a lot of friends when he was on the court. He was all business and you have to respect that."

JERRY STACKHOUSE, DALLAS MAVERICKS

"He was always the focus of every team I've been on. As a player - when the opposing team walks into the locker room and you are the first concern that's written about [on the chalkboard] - that says it all. And he was always the first concern for every team I ever played on."

JOHN STOCKTON, FORMER JAZZ GUARD

"You could not beat him into the weight room in the morning. . . . Here's the best power forward to ever play the game and he's beating everyone into the weight room. That was remarkable."

LARRY MILLER, UTAH JAZZ OWNER

"Where do the Karl Malones

come from now?"

MARC IAVARONI, PHOENIX SUNS ASSISTANT AND FORMER OPPONENT

"I remember thinking he was always pushing me in the back, they should be fouls. Then I'd look at the tape and realize all he did was lean on me a little and I was gone. He was just so strong and powerful. . . . I could never match him physically, but it was such a treat to be on the floor with him."