clarinews@clarinet.com (02/03/90)
NEW YORK (UPI) -- Karl Malone was named the NBA's Player of the Month Friday after averaging 34.3 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting .625 from the field for the Utah Jazz in January. Malone, a 6-foot-9 forward, scored an NBA season-high 61 points in a 144-96 victory over Milwaukee Jan. 27. He also had 18 rebounds and three steals while playing just 33 minutes of that game. Malone ranks second in the NBA in scoring with a 31.1 average and is among the top five in field goal percentage and rebounding. He helped the Jazz move into first in the Midwest Division with an 11-3 record in January. Malone also scored 48 points with 14 rebounds against Denver Jan. 6 and 42 points and 12 rebounds against Dallas Jan. 13. Philadelphia forward Charles Barkley was the other leading contender for Player of the Month honors. Barkley averaged 26.6 points and 14.2 rebounds and shot .638 from the field in 15 January games. Other candidates were Houston's Akeem Olajuwon, Charlotte's Armon Gilliam, Indiana's Reggie Miller, Charles Smith of the Los Angeles Clippers, James Worthy of the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami's Rony Seikaly, Minnesota's Tony Campbell, New York's Charles Oakley and Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson of Phoenix.