"Why not look up to him? He's one of the greatest players of all time in the NBA, second-leading scorer — you know all the stats more than I do. But he's so much to admire because of where he comes from and where he's at now."

There is one place, however, that Sloan figures it's just as well Malone is not at now: here, in Utah — playing for the Jazz.

Retirement, the Jazz coach suggested, is a better option for the NBA's No. 2 all-time scorer than succumbing to the potential temptation of returning to Utah to finish his playing career.

"Not at this stage," Sloan said. "I don't think it would have been fair for us to take these young players we have and say, 'OK, we're going to help Karl get more points,' or whatever the case.

"As much as we love Karl Malone — and we'd love to have him around — there comes a time where all of us have to go a different direction in this business. We can't stay together forever."

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E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com