David Stern Wants Beef Between Utah Jazz & Karl Malone Stopped

Don't Make Me Come Out There

The man has already veto a trade this season now NBA commissioner David Stern wants the beef between Utah Jazz owner Greg Miller and former star Karl Malone squashed, immediately.

On Saturday we posted the news that of the back-in-forth between the Jazz owner and Malone in which the two sides had some very ugly things to say about one another. The feud has gotten so bad that Stern has urged a reconciliation, using strong language but stopping short of an outright mandate or a hint at any disciplinary action for the vocal owner.

In an interview with The Salt Lake Tribune, the NBA commissioner said he wants a public spat between the two “put to rest.”

“I’m looking forward to the next meeting between Greg and Karl,” Stern told the newspaper at the league’s headquarters in New York before the Jazz’s Monday night game against the Knicks.

“A lot of (Karl Malone’s) charm is that he speaks his mind. But on this one … I’m not sure why Karl has put himself in the position of saying, ‘I don’t know the facts but I know what happened.’ When, in fact, he couldn’t have.”– NBA commissioner David Stern”Not for the sparks that I expect will fly, but for the calming that I think will and should occur,” Stern said. “Because [Malone has] meant so much to the franchise and the city over the years and to the Miller family, and the Miller family has meant so much to the franchise and the city for so many years.”

Hall of Famer John Stockton told The Tribune he’s worried the dispute will “tarnish” the legacy he and Malone worked so hard to build.

“What we all shared is so special,” Stockton said. “I just hope this can be resolved, because it was a special time for me and for everyone.”