Malone, Jordan Make It Unanimous on First Team

The honors keep rolling in for Karl Malone and Michael Jordan.

Malone, the Utah Jazz’ power forward and NBA’s most valuable player, and Jordan, the Chicago Bulls’ all-star guard and league’s nine-time scoring champion, were unanimous selections to the All-NBA first team announced Wednesday.

Malone, a unanimous choice for the second time, and Jordan, selected unanimously for the fourth time, each received first-team votes from all 115 sportswriters and broadcasters who participated in the balloting.

Joining them on the first team were Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon at center, Detroit’s Grant Hill at forward and Miami’s Tim Hardaway at guard.

*

The Atlanta Hawks have apparently blocked any attempt by the Orlando Magic to lure Coach Lenny Wilkens.

The Magic asked for and was denied permission to talk to Wilkens, sources told the Orlando Sentinel.

On Monday, Magic General Manager John Gabriel met with former Detroit Piston coach Chuck Daly, who asked to have his name withdrawn from consideration as well.

The Magic currently has a coach in Richie Adubato, but the team reportedly also has made a five-year, $30-million offer to Bull Coach Phil Jackson.

*

Piston Coach Doug Collins is negotiating for a new contract that could double his salary, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Earlier reports said Collins might be leaving the team, with health reasons fueling the speculation.

Piston President Tom Wilson and Collins’ agent, John Langel, are renegotiating the contract, the Free Press reported. Collins is in the third year of a five-year contract that pays him $1.5 million a year.