Victor Wembanyama seemed to take aim at NBA legend Karl Malone after the league posted a birthday tribute for the former Utah Jazz star.
A Cryptic Social Media Move
The NBA’s official history account wished Karl Malone a happy 62nd birthday on Thursday, praising his credentials as a 14-time NBA All-Star, two-time MVP, and 75th Anniversary Team member. The post read: “Join us in wishing a Happy 62nd Birthday to 14x #NBAAllStar, 2x NBA MVP, and 75th Anniversary Team member… ‘The Mailman,’ Karl Malone! #NBABDAY.”
Rather than commenting directly, Wembanyama chose to reshare a post from social media user DJ J. Strand (@DJ_Ajaxx). The shared content showed someone declaring, “What? Oh, see that’s what we not about to do. Police, lock his ass up because he need to be under the jail.” The message clearly referenced Malone’s troubling past.
The Dark Cloud Over Malone’s Legacy
The reshared post pointed to a disturbing chapter in Malone’s history: his relationship with a 13-year-old girl when he was 20 and playing at Louisiana Tech, which resulted in her pregnancy. Malone spent years denying paternity, despite a 1998 Associated Press report showing a 99.3% DNA test probability that he fathered the child.
He later developed a relationship with his son, Demetress Bell, who’s now 41 and spent four seasons playing offensive line in the NFL.
NBA Faces Ongoing Criticism Over Malone
While Wembanyama’s intent behind the reshare remains ambiguous, the NBA has repeatedly drawn fire for how it handles Malone’s controversial legacy.
The league honored Malone during 2023 All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City—the city where he spent 18 seasons and captured two MVP trophies—despite significant pushback. When asked about the criticism at the time, Malone brushed off concerns, telling the Salt Lake Tribune: “I’m not discussing any of that backlash. I don’t care. That’s my life, that’s my personal life, and I’ll deal with that like I’ve had to deal with everything. So, whatever.”
A New Generation Speaking Up
The San Antonio Spurs phenom’s social media activity reflects a broader trend among younger NBA players who aren’t afraid to challenge the league’s treatment of controversial figures from basketball’s past.
Time will tell whether this marks the beginning of more direct criticism from current players toward problematic legends, or if it was simply Wembanyama making a personal statement. Either way, his subtle dig has sparked fresh debate about how the NBA should balance honoring past achievements while acknowledging serious personal failings.
