In honor of Karl Malone’s 62nd birthday, the official NBA X account published a congratulatory tweet to celebrate the milestone. For most players, this would hardly be a controversial issue, but that’s not the case with Malone, who has a dark history of sexual abuse. Amid the outcry from critics this week, Victor Wembanyama went viral for his brutal and candid response, which was a retweet of a clip meant to call out the NBA directly.
“What?! See, that’s what we not finna do. Police, lock his his a** up! You need to be under the jail, arrest him immediately.”
https://t.co/zlxGZHAfhM pic.twitter.com/h6urtdVzPO
— J. Strand (@DJ_Ajaxx) July 25, 2025
On paper, Karl Malone’s greatness cannot be denied. As a 14x All-Star, 2x MVP, and 14x All-NBA player, he was one of the league’s greatest players during the 90s and early 2000s. In 19 years in the NBA, he averaged 25.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game on 51.6% shooting. As it stands, Malone is one of the best players in Utah Jazz history.
Unfortunately, his legacy has been forever scarred due to some ghosts from his past. The scandal dates back to when Malone was 20 years old and a student at Louisiana Tech. In a fact that went largely unpublicized at the time, Malone impregnated a 13-year-old girl named Gloria Bell. After initially denying his paternity, a court-ordered DNA test later showed that he was the father. Despite the obvious legal implications, Malone never faced criminal charges, and he never even so much as apologized for the situation.
His son, Demetress Bell, eventually went on to play in the NFL, where he’d share his story to a national audience. Unsurprisingly, Bell reveals he was never close to his father despite making contact several times as an adult.
While this incident went overlooked for years, the NBA community has recently caught on to the story, and they’ve been making it known anytime Malone is in the public eye. During the NBA’s 75th anniversary ceremony, Malone’s shady past was a common topic of conversation as he faced renewed scrutiny from fans and commentators who questioned why the league continues to honor him.
Now, Wembanyama is the latest one to condemn Malone’s legacy. As the face of the next generation of the game, Wemby knows how important it is to protect his image and reputation. So when he saw the NBA celebrating such a controversial figure, he felt compelled to speak his mind and reveal where he stands on the issue.
For Victor, the league should not be lifting up someone like Malone, who has a personal history that involves abusing minors. All things considered, Karl is lucky he’s not in jail instead of being featured on an NBA birthday post.
Wembanyama’s reaction is part of a growing reckoning within the NBA community. As younger stars become more vocal about values and legacy, it’s becoming harder for the league to ignore its darker chapters. Malone’s on-court success may be undeniable, but for many—including Wembanyama—it can’t outweigh the weight of his past. The NBA’s decision to continue honoring Malone in spite of that reality is a choice, and Wembanyama made it clear where he stands.
