Utah Jazz: Karl Malone (BEST)
Myopic fans will tell you that Karl Malone never won an NBA title, and probably didn’t really deserve to win the first of his two MVP awards in 1997. But facts are facts: Malone scored 36,928 career points, which is 2nd-most in NBA history, only behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Malone also shares the record for the second-most first team All-NBA selections in the history of the league (tied with Kobe Bryant). “The Mailman” averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds a game over 18 years on the Jazz, and is widely regarded as both one of the greatest power forwards of not just his era, but of any NBA era in general.
Utah Jazz: Trey Burke (WORST)
Alfonso Clark “Trey” Burke III played for two years at the University of Michigan, and was constantly referred to as one of the best — if not the best — players in the nation during his sophomore year in college. In 2013, Burke became the first player to win the college basketball player of the year award and lead his team to the national championship since Ed O’Bannon in 1995.
But college basketball appeared to be the peak of Burke’s career, as he was one of those guys whose game simply couldn’t translate in the NBA. After being dumped by the Utah Jazz (who originally drafted him), Burke has had a couple of forgettable seasons as of late, with the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks.