Malone is "retirement bound" but hasn't ruled out return: agent
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-04 08:52

Karl Malone is "retirement bound" but he has left the door ajar for a return to the National Basketball Association once his injuries heal, player agent Dwight Manley said.

"He is not closing any doors but he's going in a different direction that obviously is retirement bound," Manley told the Los Angeles Times.

"If he wanted to play today he couldn't anyway. He will be able to in the future."

The 41-year-old Los Angeles Laker is still recovering from right knee surgery and no career decision would be made until he is fully healthy, Manley said.

"His focus is on his family and his personal life right now. At this time he doesn't want to play basketball."

Malone is a 14-time all-star and is the second leading scorer in NBA history. He told Lakers owner Jerry Buss he would play for Los Angeles if he decided to play again.

Buss has offered him a job with the team if Malone decides to call it quits.

The Lakers open their training camp next Tuesday in San Diego. Their first pre-season match is October 12 against Seattle in Anaheim and they begin the season on November 2 by hosting Denver.

Close

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
Foreigners enjoy living, travelling in China         Beijing calls on G7 to help poor countries         For peace, Indian troops mark China festival         Mainland consumers lift HK retail sales         Singapore issues stern warning to Taiwan         Auto recall rules have teeth	Second-half China blitz sinks Malaysia       Barcelona move clear as Real flop again       Rooney back to earth as Man United draw       Malone is "retirement bound" but hasn't ruled out return: agent       Sun Yingjie wins women's world half-marathon       Li Na reaches her first ever WTA final