Karl Malone delivered to the Hall of Fame

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — During his illustrious NBA career, Karl Malone hammer-dunked, pick-and-rolled and softly flicked free throws and fade-away jumpers into the hoop for a staggering amount of points — 36,928, to be exact.

Need more proof he belongs on the stage at the basketball Hall of Fame ceremony tonight?

In becoming the league's all-time second-leading scorer, Malone led the small-market, cost-conscious Utah Jazz to two NBA Finals, 11 50-win seasons and six division titles; he received 14 invitations to the All-Star Game, took up residence on the All-NBA first team from 1989-99 and was a three-time All-Defensive first-teamer.

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Then there were the multiple NBA records (like his 11 consecutive seasons with 2,000 points), the pair of MVP awards and gold medals and more eye-popping statistics compiled throughout his 19 professional years than one of his diesels can hold.

There are plenty of reasons, in other words, why Malone earned his way into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility — an honor that will be made official during tonight's enshrinement ceremony.

Perhaps the two biggest reasons?

Work and play — in that order.

Malone was a tireless worker. On top of that, he always played hard, always played at a high level and, well, just always played.

While forcefully putting the power into the power forward position, this Mailman delivered in sleet, snow, rain and pain. Night in, night out.

"The guy didn't miss games," marveled ex-Jazz player Matt Harpring, Malone's former teammate, who was equally impressed that his fellow hard-worker didn't miss practices, either.

"That's incredible in today's world. ... You don't find that. Talk about earning your money. You earned your money with (Malone), so I've got a lot of respect for him."

Malone, no doubt, had his faults.