Karl Malone says the Jerry Sloan he knows would never quit and suggested his longtime Jazz coach grew tired of garbage that came with the job and certain players.

"They changed the floor back to old school. They changed the uniform back to old school. Somebody tell the damn players to start playing like old school," Malone said Friday night. "It may work. They spent a lot of money on the rest, now how about you tell the players. I'm just calling it like I see it."

Malone, who has exchanged phone messages with Sloan since his resignation, also took issue with some national analysts and players who were particularly critical of the coach.

Deron Williams clashed with Sloan recently because of his schedule and study demands.

"You're a professional," Malone said. "You don't need for me to break a film down for you. If you want to stop the guy you're playing, they pay you millions of dollars. You get you a TV and break the player down yourself."

Not a single player attended Sloan's press conference on Thursday, when he announced his decision to step down.

"I don't even need to answer whether I would have been there or not," said Malone.

"If I got something to say or do to a man, I'm going to look that man in the eye and tell him what is going to happen. That's just me now."