Feb 15, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA former player Karl Malone before the 2014 NBA All Star Shooting Stars competition at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

As documented by our own Greg Foster, “The Mailman” Karl Malone recently celebrated his 52nd birthday (July 24). The day also marked the 30th anniversary of his first trip to the state after being selected No. 13 overall by the Utah Jazz in the 1985 NBA Draft.

As documented by KSL Sports, here is an amazing video chronicle of Malone’s introduction to the franchise and Salt Lake City, as well as the parade that the future Hall of Famer initially thought was being held in his honor–

Of course, the parade was actually for Pioneer Day, a Utah holiday commemorating the 1847 arrival of the first Mormon settlers in the Salt Lake Valley. Malone’s initial belief that the parade was a celebration of his own arrival was the first in a long line of stories that comprise the Mailman’s legendary tale.

My favorite part of the video has to be the moment when Malone was asked whether or not he was there to take Fred Roberts‘ spot in the rotation. We all know how that one played out, but the Mailman awkwardly responding that he wasn’t is classic. Clearly our guy had yet to hit his boat-rocking prime.

In addition to his exploits on the court, Malone will forever remain one of the most intriguing and entertaining figures in team history.

We’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again–happy birthday, Karl!