Who was stronger--Ben Wallace or Karl Malone?

[sportjames23]

Who you got?

[smoovegittar]

Malone without a shred of a doubt.

[Rake2204]

I think Karl Malone was on another level. Yes, he was committed to basketball, but he sometimes almost seemed more committed to lifting and working out (which only helped him become a better basketball player). I feel as though I read he was a mountain biker as well (my memory says he'd go for 30-to-50 mile rides). He took pride in putting in a ton of work and seeing the results.

[KobesFinger]

Lifting weights or on the court?

[sportjames23]

Lifting weights or on the court?

Both.

[KobesFinger]

Both.

Its a toughie, I think in the gym Karl Malone but on the court I'm inclined to say Ben Wallace because he played C but was the same size. He'd match up with Shaq, Mutombo, Jermaine O'Neal, Zo etc. who were all bigger than him but he'd hold his own

[T_L_P]

I guess Malone's strength on the court is clouded a bit because he didn't have a power game (80s and a lot of the 90s, at least). Half his buckets were pick and roll, then the rest were mid-range shots and pretty typical post plays. He didn't body up like his size allowed him too either.

Meanwhile Wallace played some of the most aggressive defense I've ever seen.

[ArbitraryWater]

Wallace IMO

[Hoopz2332]

Ben Wallace easy

[sundizz]

For someone of Malone's physical tools - he played a pretty damn finesse game, especially on defense. He stripped the ball a lot more than he would go for a block or try to body up a guy chest to chest.

Ben Wallace seemed to use his strength better. Malone just had significantly superior basketball skills of course.

6'10, 270 with 4.5% bf (Karl Malone)
6'9, 240 could bench 460 (Ben Wallace)






also...Shaq was a monster. He is so much bigger as a human than monstrous Dwight Howard...

[Psileas]

I guess Malone's strength on the court is clouded a bit because he didn't have a power game (80s and a lot of the 90s, at least). Half his buckets were pick and roll, then the rest were mid-range shots and pretty typical post plays. He didn't body up like his size allowed him too either.

Plus, his frequent swings and kicks when he was driving, mainly to draw fouls, also seemed to cloak his strength. You normally don't expect from such a strong player to be that reactive in this situation.

[Nowitness]

its a shame k. malone was such a choker. he had all the gifts. just wasnt mentally strong and he didnt get the game.

[Rake2204]

Its a toughie, I think in the gym Karl Malone but on the court I'm inclined to say Ben Wallace because he played C but was the same size. He'd match up with Shaq, Mutombo, Jermaine O'Neal, Zo etc. who were all bigger than him but he'd hold his own

I think Wallace competed admirably, but I wonder if Malone's defensive success against O'Neal may have rivaled Wallace's. Shaq was huge, and he was often a little too much for Ben to handle, particularly in single coverage (though again, the same could be said for most of whom defended Shaq).

[SugarHill]

its a shame k. malone was such a choker. he had all the gifts. just wasnt mentally strong and he didnt get the game.

For someone who didn't get the game, he sure had a long and productive career filled with accolades...

[La Frescobaldi]

I think Wallace competed admirably, but I wonder if Malone's defensive success against O'Neal may have rivaled Wallace's. Shaq was huge, and he was often a little too much for Ben to handle, particularly in single coverage (though again, the same could be said for most of whom defended Shaq).

????? like there was somebody who could handle that behemoth