It’s been almost three decades since Karl Malone’s infamous elbow to Isiah Thomas’ head left the Detroit Pistons Hall-of-Famer needing more than 40 stitches. In 2014, Thomas didn’t mince words when he called it the “dirtiest” play he had ever experienced, labeling it the “cheapest” foul “in the history of the game.” Despite initially getting away with a light slap on the wrist, Malone’s actions that night had long-lasting ripple effect to be felt a decade later.

It was December 14, 1991, in Salt Lake City. 6-6 on board during the first quarter of the game, Thomas dribbled down the court for a pull up shot. But just as he leaped into the air, Malone too jumped in defense, only to end up elbowing the Pistons star on the forehead.

Malone was ejected immediately and later handed a one-game suspension along with a $10,000 fine. Thomas, on the other hand, incurred 42 stitches.

“I never went at anyone intentionally,” Malone later admitted on KSL-TV. But would mean hardly a thing for a 14-year-old, Kenyon Martin, who was determined to give it back to Malone if he ever made it to the NBA.

Fast forward to a decade later, Martin was then a New Jersey Net and fresh into his NBA career. When he finally got his chance to face Malone, Martin didn’t hesitate. In one of their early matchups, Martin went straight at Malone, delivering a blow to the head.

In a candid appearance on the ‘All the Smoke’ podcast, Martin reminisced, saying, “Y’all remember when Karl Malone elbowed Isiah Thomas and split him open? Remember that? Isiah was leaking, right? This was way before I was ever in the league, and I never thought I was going to be in the NBA to begin with. But I remember he had him leaking, right?”

Isiah Thomas, who shares a hometown (Saginaw, Michigan) with Martin, was touched when he heard the story. He even called him up to say thank you. “You never know who that little is gonna grow up to be. I had no idea that I had impacted his life from Saginaw. I never met him,” Thomas expressed.

Isiah Thomas gets his wish fufilled through Kenyon Martin

Speaking to Draymond Green, Thomas revealed that he did indeed want to get back at Karl Malone but could not really match his physicality. So he was satisfied when in 2000 that Kenyon Martin, playing against Utah in Jersey, saw the opportunity for revenge. When John Stockton passed the ball to Malone, without hesitation, Martin chased him down and delivered a hit to the head, leaving Malone on the floor.

“I go right inside to Karl Malone and boom, lay him out, and he didn’t get up… I was like, ‘Aww, this motherf****r soft right here.’” Martin recounted.

Later, after the release of Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance, many former players reconnected, and it was then that Thomas revealed a surprising turn of events. He told reporter Peter Vescey that he and Malone eventually made peace. “He called me up and said … ‘I’m a man.’ He said, ‘I never had anything against you,’” Thomas recalled. The conversation took an emotional turn when Malone finally apologized.

“Isiah, I’ve been wanting to say this to you for so long,” Malone admitted. “Man, I apologize.” Malone, overwhelmed with emotion, nearly broke down, admitting that the incident still haunted him after all these years. Thomas accepted the apology, and even revealed he also ‘respects’ the Jazz All-Star.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.