"I've tried to pattern my game after his"- Carlos Boozer revealed his biggest childhood NBA inspiration

Carlos Boozer exceeded most expectations as a second-round pick in the 2002 draft. Despite an encouraging start, he never quite lived up to the early hype. That said, Booz's prime came with the Utah Jazz, highlighted by two All-Star appearances and an All-NBA selection.

Beginning his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boozer and the management had reached a long-term understanding. However, things didn't go as planned, and Carlos signed with the Jazz in 2004. Following all the criticism from Cavs ownership, he now shifted gears when he landed in Utah.

Growing up idolizing Karl Malone, playing for the Jazz was no doubt a special moment for Boozer. The Mailman played 18 of his 19 seasons for Utah, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest power forwards of all time. This marked a memorable moment for Carlos.

"He (Karl Malone) is my favorite player, and I've tried to pattern my game after his. He's had a tremendous career, and he's been very successful. I aspire to have a career like his," revealed Booz in a 2003 statement.

The best fan base

Carlos spent 13 seasons in the NBA, playing for four franchises, including the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls. That said, when it came to fan experience, Jazz always stood out for Booz. During a 2023 appearance on the Roundball Roundup podcast, the 6'9" forward opened up about what made the Jazz fan base so special.

"We packed the house. All six years I was in Utah, the gym was packed every single night. Everybody was standing up, especially in that playoff series. And obviously, as we advanced that year too, you look ahead to the Spurs and what have you," said Carlos about Utah's 2007 playoff run.

"It's a treat to be able to have fans that support you, no matter what. We fell short of trying to win a championship for the organization, but they built a winning culture there. And that's why, when I was a free agent in 2004, I wanted to go to a winner. And Utah was that place," added the former Jazz forward, who was known for his pairing with point guard Deron Williams.

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The Malone-Stockton comparisons

Apart from being a forward-guard tandem, Boozer and Williams also shared Coach Jerry Sloan in common with Malone and Stockton. Thus, as the new-age Jazz duo began to find success with the tested pick-and-roll system, comparisons were bound to follow, thanks to the media.

Nonetheless, D-Will refused to pay much heed to any such parallels, sharing his thoughts in a 2024 episode of the Legends of Sports podcast.

"We didn't have to talk about it because the media was always going to talk about it; they always brought up the comparisons, of there was never any comparison from our end,"stated Williams, adding how he and Booz always shot down such comparisons.

"Those are two legends, two of the greatest of all time. We aspired to be as good as they were," added D-Will.

There is no denying that the pair of Boozer and Williams had a high ceiling in their early years. However, comparing them to Malone and Stockton was not the wisest move, given the Hall of Fame duo's contributions to the Jazz, which were hard to match.

Related: Deron Williams responded to Kobe Bryant after he questioned his mentality: "I'm a point guard"

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.