LOS ANGELES, 19 July 2003 — Basketball star Karl Malone will not wear his traditional jersey No. 32 when he joins the Los Angeles Lakers next season, leaving the uniform once worn by Lakers legend Magic Johnson retired.
“I have been doing some thinking about things,” Malone said here on Thursday. “I wanted to wear Magic’s 32 out of the utmost respect, but now I don’t think 32 should be taken out of the rafters.”
Johnson smiled by the decision from the “Mailman”, saying, “I think of lot of Karl. When he wanted to wear it as a tribute to me, I was honored.” Malone and fellow National Basketball Association All-Star Gary Payton signed with the Lakers on Wednesday, joining Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant in a quest to bring both newcomers their first NBA championship rings.
“Anything less than a championship is going to be disappointing to a lot of people, but it’s not going to be any more disappointing than for us,” Malone said.
O’Neal and Bryant sparked the Lakers to three NBA crowns in a row before San Antonio dethroned them this year. But Payton and Malone’s “If you can’t beat them, join them” move makes the Lakers a title favorite once more in 2004.
“We’re going to bring the fun back,” Payton said. “We’re going to run, me and him, and we’re going to get layups. If we get 20 points a game on layups, that will hurt some teams.” Former Utah star Malone and Seattle guard Payton both reached the NBA finals but lost to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. Malone has played 1,334 NBA games without a title but will revamp the Lakers in a new “Showtime” era.
“We’re coming at you,” Johnson said. “That’s a whole new dimension we haven’t had before. Guys want to be part of something special like this.” Both Malone and Payton took less than maximum money to seek a title and each could depart after next season, but as Payton put it: “If we win the championship, I don’t think we’re going anywhere. Win some more and more.” How much is Malone looking forward to October’s season opener? He’s looking for blowout victories even sooner than that. “From the first pre-season game, we want to crush people,” Malone said. “We’re not waiting to make a statement. I wish it started today.
