Karl Malone’s Wife Kay Kinsey

Meet Kay Kinsey Malone, wife of former NBA star Karl Malone. Kay hardly knew basketball when she went to a mall in Utah with her sister and brother-in-law. While at the mall, Kay met Karl at an autograph signing session.

Kay says,” I saw this peculiar sign near ZCMI that says ‘The Mailman Has Delivered.’ I thought – ‘That’s weird, why would the mailman be delivering here? I mean – what’s the big deal with Karl the Mailman?’ Then I saw him and realized – ‘Oh, maybe Karl is the first black postman.’ I said to my family, ‘This is really outrageous! You have a guy signing autographs because he’s the first black postman?’ After they cracked up in my face, they set me straight that Karl plays basketball. I just thought that’s the goofiest name I’ve ever heard for a basketball player – ‘the mailman?!’

“When we got up to Karl, he asked me if I wanted his autograph. I said ‘No, he did.’ Karl smiled and said ‘Is this your boyfriend, husband?’ I thought ‘Oh, good pickup line.’ Again he asked, ‘How would you like my autograph?’ I said ‘Sure, you can sign it to some of my friends at school.’ I did ask Karl if I could take a picture with him and he quickly agreed!”

Kay adds, “A couple of months later I developed the pictures and sent one to my sister. My brother-in-law, Thane, wrote a letter on ‘my behalf’ and sent the picture to Karl. Thane made a pretty big fuss in the letter about me being a big fan and being Miss Idaho. Karl called me at my parent’s house in Idaho. My mom didn’t believe who he was, so she hung up the phone! ”  He called back later and said ‘I got your picture.’ I asked if he would sign it and send it to me. He said, ‘No – I got your picture as Miss Idaho.’ I was shocked and said that I hadn’t sent that to him. He asked me about the letter I had sent also. Again, I was shocked and said, ‘Read it to me!’ After he read it I said, ‘I did not write that! I am not a big fan because I have never seen you play in my whole life!’ I said, ‘I know who you are. I know you play basketball, but I’m not a big basketball fan.’” But that led into a lot of talking, and we quickly became good friends. He and I were both dating other people at the time, and I didn’t believe in long-distance relationships, so we fostered a friendship. We found opportunities to see each other more often. He came to Idaho just to see me a few times. Then we began to get more serious and doing things more together.”

The couple married on December 24th, 1990. Kay and Karl have four children together: Kadee (born 1991), Kylee (born 1993), Karl Jr., (born 1995) and Karlee (born 1998). Karl also has children from two prior relationships. Karl has admitted to fathering twins (Cheryl and Daryl Ford, born June 1981) with Bonita Ford, but denies paternity of a third child (Demetrius Bell) with Gloria Bell, born three years later.

Kay Malone, a Boise State University graduate with a sociology degree, is a former supermodel who won the 1988 Miss Idaho USA pageant. Also, Kay has owned and operated Wolfe Krest Bed and Breakfast in Salt Lake City since it’s opening in 1999.

Karl Malone played 19 years in the NBA. Malone spent his first 18 seasons (1985–2003) as the star player for the Utah Jazz. He then played one season (2003–04) for the Los Angeles Lakers before retiring. Malone’s jersey was retired on March 23, 2006, when the Jazz hosted the Washington Wizards.