Karl Malone Discusses Wanting To Train Zion Williamson, For Free On Latest Episode Of Knuckleheads

Today, former Utah Jazz star and two-time MVP, Karl Malone sat down for the latest episode of Knuckleheads Podcast with Darius Miles & Quentin Richardson to discuss what rising New Orleans Pelican star, Zion Williamson, needs to do in order to tap into his fullest potential.

“The Mailman” also dishes on who he thinks should own the Utah Jazz, one time he wanted to kick Chris Webber’s ass, and what it was like playing for the legendary coach, Jerry Sloan.

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Episode highlights include:

• The time he wanted to kick Chris Webber’s ass (25:10): “I love Chris Webber but this was one time where I wanted to kick his ass. Right? So we had been wearing them out – at home – and Chris Webber started at half court looking for John Stockton. On the flip side, I say ‘Good on you Chris for studying the playbook. And we ran that four up and he didn’t even care. He hit Stockton right in the sternum with his elbow. I damn near felt it and [it] hurt. …I felt so bad I went over to Coach [Jerry] Sloan and I said, ‘Coach, don’t run that again, please.’ Stock[ton] looked at me and said ‘No, I’m good’ and the next play– well, you know.”
• On what it was like to play for coach Jerry Sloan (41:41): “Well, number one, there was no bullshit. Number two, you believed him because he played it. He played it when he broke his nose three times in the same game. I’m [going to] tell you, the respect level– that’s what I try to tell people now… So you know what Coach Sloan did one time? …Coach Sloan called [Chris Morris’s] play one time and Chris Morris was looking up in the stands – not paying attention. Well, when the play started, he wasn’t where [he] was supposed to be. Well Coach Sloan from that day, had people watching us in the huddle to see where we [were] looking and who we [were] paying attention to. I would run through a wall for him because he played the game when they used to go in there at half time and drink a six-pack.”
• On who he thinks should own the Utah Jazz (48:30): “We got a new owner with Utah [Jazz] right now. Ryan Smith. He bought the [Utah] Jazz. You know, …there’s no way we shouldn’t have a [veteran] who played with the Utah Jazz … There [are] veterans out there that can use the money, and number two, every young kid is going to respect. You get a hotshot point guard. You mean to tell me you can’t find a [veteran]?”
• On how he agrees with Big Baby that Zion Williamson is not at his full potential (1:00:03): “Guys, I love Zion Williamson. We might not ever know his full potential. There was a young man who played at LSU – [Glen] ‘Big Baby’ Davis – Big Baby made a comment about eight months ago. And he came on that show and he said ‘Hey now, guys, I’m about to get into trouble with what I’m about to say. I know everybody loves Zion and I love him too. But Zion has the same body type that I got.’ He was talking about himself. And [Davis] said, ‘If [Williamson] don’t get into shape, we’ll never know his full potential.’ And he did get heat for that. But guess what guys, he needs to be averaging 40 minutes a game. You are a 21-22-year-old kid, your ass shouldn’t be getting tired.”

Fans can look forward to new episodes on Tuesdays on all major podcast services and online at The Players’ Tribune website and video of the episodes will be available on Thursdays on The Players’ Tribune YouTube.