One of her birthday presents: tickets to the Jazz-Washington game Thursday night, which also meant a ringside seat for the Karl Malone jersey retirement ceremony at halftime.

"From my son," she said.

But Hester couldn't wait until 7 p.m.

She arrived a couple of hours early in order to be part of the day's first public celebration - the unveiling of an 18-foot statue of Malone on the Delta Center's southeast plaza.

On a sunny-but-cool spring afternoon, about 3,000 fans of all ages, shapes and sizes joined Jazz owner Larry Miller, former Jazz star John Stockton, NBA commissioner David Stern and others who paid tribute to Malone.

Some wore Malone jerseys. Some wore Andrei Kirilenko jerseys. One wore Jazz rookie Deron Williams' No. 8.

James Abate, a 25-year-old with a United States Marine Corps tattoo on his upper arm, flew in from Las Vegas to be part of the festivities.

"Just for this," he said proudly.

Abate's family moved from Salt Lake City to Nevada when he was 8 years old - just about the time Malone was establishing himself as a star in the NBA.

"He was the first player I ever called my favorite player," Abate said. "I remember him dunking the ball and putting his hand behind his head, and I remember him running down the floor pumping his arms."

Abate, of course, thinks the side-by-side statues of Malone and Stockton are "a great idea. Not too many players deserve something like this. But Karl is one of them. So is Stockton."

For a die-hard Jazz fan like Abate, however, the statue ceremony was bittersweet.

"It's kind of sad, that we're not going to see him anymore," he said. "But it's a nice day, too. A good day for him."

The melancholy continued into the night, as the ceremonies moved indoors. At halftime of the Jazz game against the Washington Wizards, the sellout crowd in the Delta Center experienced all kinds of emotions, cheering wildly one moment, battling tears the next and listening intently at other times.

Malone's former teammates and his family stood by his side, as Stockton, Miller and Stern delivered heartfelt speeches.

"Every accolade, you've deserved," Stern said. "I look forward to seeing you at your Hall of Fame induction."

After Malone addressed the fans and his former teammates, his retired No. 32 jersey was unveiled in the Delta Center rafters.

Asked if his new favorite player - Williams - might someday join Malone and Stockton on the plaza, Abate laughed and said, "He's pretty good. If he keeps developing . . ."

Phil Spence, 28, of Salt Lake City, showed up at the statue ceremony wearing a No. 32 jersey from Louisiana Tech, where Malone attended college. He bought it at a collector's store in Orange County, Calif.

Spence called Malone and Stockton a couple of their adopted state's most famous people.

"Those two put Utah on the map, and not just basketball-wise," he said. "When you tell somebody you're from Utah, they say one of two things: 'You're Mormon' or 'Stockton and Malone.' "

Holding a cigarette in one hand, a crutch in the other and wearing a Utah Jazz leather jacket similar to one that sells for $149.99 in the Delta Center Fanzz store, Hester called the ceremony honoring Malone "just great."

"He played here for 18 years," Hester said. "He was faithful to us. He did a lot for the community."

Hester knows for a fact that when Kay Malone discovered that Primary Children's Hospital "didn't have any rocking chairs," Karl Malone "went out and bought 500 rocking chairs."

Malone called the statue ceremony "really, really awesome."

"To me, it's where my kids' kids' kids can come and say, 'That's my grandpa, my great-grandpa or my great-great grandpa,' " he added.

Karl Malone file

Age: 42

Born: July 24, 1963

Hometown: Summerfield, La.

High School: Summerfield

College: Louisiana Tech

NBA Career: No. 2 scorer in NBA history (36,928). . . . Drafted in the first round (13th overall) by the Utah Jazz in 1985. . . . Most Valuable Player (1997, 1999). . . . All-NBA first team (12 times). . . . NBA All-Defensive first team (1997, 1998, 1999). . . . NBA All-Rookie team (1985-86). . . . Holds NBA record for seasons (12) scoring at least 2,000 points.. . . Holds playoff record for consecutive free throws made (18). . . . All-Star Game MVP (1989). . . . All-Star Game co-MVP with John Stockton (1993). . . . Scored a career-high 61 points vs. Milwaukee (Jan. 27, 1990).