Malone, Russell declined 'The Last Dance' interview requests

Utah Jazz teammates Karl Malone (left) and Bryon Russell did participate in interviews for the "The Last Dance." MCT/Sipa USA

Karl Malone, Bryon Russell declined 'The Last Dance' interview requests

By Zac Wassink | Last updated May 18, 2020 2:45 PM ET

Multiple former teammates of Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and several of his on-the-court rivals spoke with director Jason Hehir about His Airness and the Bulls teams of the 1990s for the ESPN docuseries "The Last Dance."

A pair of men denied championships by Jordan weren't interested in participating.

On Monday, Andrew Perloff of "The Dan Patrick Show" tweeted former Utah Jazz players Karl Malone and Bryon Russell passed on giving their accounts for the documentary:

Last Dance director Jason Hehir says Karl Malone and Bryon Russell were the only notable players to decline to be interviewed.
— Andrew Perloff (@andrewperloff) May 18, 2020

Russell was on the wrong end of Jordan game-winners during the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals. Before MJ drained his memorable shot in the waning seconds of Game 6 of the '98 Finals, he picked Malone's pocket for one of the most costly turnovers ever committed by The Mailman.

We can't blame them for not wanting to recall those moments. They've probably thought about them enough over the decades.

Malone never won a title, but he did rise to second on the career scoring list.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

More must-reads: