HOLLYWOOD—In his National Basketball Association heyday, Karl Malone was called “The Mailman”—he always delivered for the Utah Jazz and later for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Now 51 but still menacing at 6-foot-9 and about 300 pounds, the two-time NBA MVP and 14-time All-Star went to Wild Card Gym here and delivered a message for its most renowned ambassador—Manny Pacquiao.
The Hall of Famer made it clear he is rooting for the Filipino icon.
Pacquiao, whose next passion after boxing is basketball, was clearly elated by Malone’s support.
Following the cancellation of the sparring session Thursday due to another unannounced blood extraction, Pacquiao thanked Malone and posted on Instagram a photo of his 5-6 frame dwarfed by Malone.
“Thank you, Karl Malone, for visiting me,” tweeted Pacquiao. “God bless you and your family.”
Malone is married to half-Filipino Kay Kines, a former Ms. Idaho whose mother is Cely Ellorin Kinez of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.
Pacquiao can also count MVP contender Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, among his supporters.
Curry gave Pacquiao a signed jersey and hooked up with the eight-division world champion’s sons—Jimwell and Michael—in an official NBA game.
Pacquiao also thanked Curry for his gesture.