Karl Malone was in a pensive mood prior to taking on the New Orleans Jazz on Wednesday night.

"Better late than never," the perennial Utah Jazz All-Star said of finally playing in New Orleans.

"Seventeen years ago," he said, "I'd probably have been playing here."

Malone, a native of Summerfield and a Louisiana Tech alum, would still consider that possibility.

The 6-foot-9 forward is in the last year of his contract, and since the Hornets moved to the Crescent City from Charlotte, the notion of possibly ending his career in his home state has been on his mind.