Fall Premier Auction 2019

Karl Malone dominated at power forward for the Utah Jazz and teamed flawlessly with point guard John Stockton in getting the Jazz to back-to-back NBA Finals in the late 1990’s. This lot features Malone’s 1997-98 Utah Jazz game worn and dual-signed APEX “Mailman” shoes that he donned during the team’s second consecutive Western Conference championship season. More specifically, these same sneakers are the same ones the Mailman wore in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals vs. MJ and the Bulls. We know how that turned out. But if not for Jordan's fateful jumper over Byron Russell to seal it for Chicago, Malone would have been the hero after his clutch performance: 31 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists. A professional photo-match from the services of Real Game Used was able to conclusively match the creasing and design patterns of these offered shoes with Game 6 images. To top it off, the source is another pro athlete: former Atlanta Falcons running back, Jamal Anderson. The white leather high-top APEX shoes read “MAILMAN 32” in gold embroidery on the top outside area of both ankles. Sporting gold and blue trim throughout, both shoes include the “APEX” black logo near the side/heel areas. The back of both shoes show a special white basketball emblem with “32” and “MVP” emblazoned in the center to commemorate Malone’s NBA MVP season. Both tongues read “APEX” in gold on blue trim. Even the soles read “APEX.” Malone has signed the outside panels of both shoes in black marker and inscribed them with his uniform number “32.” They show plenty of wear inside and out, full of leather creases, paint transfers, internal sock sweating and heel drag. Talk about a special pair of kicks from a basketball legend who sits #2 all-time on the NBA's career scoring list (trailing only Kareem). Includes photo-matched LOA from Real Game Used (RGU). LOA signed by Jamal Anderson. JSA LOA for autographs (Certification #: Z69855).