Blake Griffin broke out a nice tribute to Karl Malone during the first quarter of Monday’s Clippers-Suns game.

Griffin got a pass in the front court and went up for an uncontested dunk in transition. With nobody around, he put his left hand behind his head like the “Mailman.”

“Just a tribute to one of the best power forwards of all time,” Griffin said of the dunk during an interview with Prime Ticket after the game.

What inspired the tribute? Griffin didn’t say, but maybe it has to do with Malone being complimentary of the Clippers star recently.

While serving as a commentator for ESPN, Malone mentioned Griffin as the one guy he’d really like to spend time with and help. He also advised Griffin to go crazy on the next person who messes with him to discourage that kind of behavior. Griffin hasn’t exactly followed the advice, which is why he was involved in a fight with a guy like PJ Tucker later in the game. Maybe if Griffin hauled off on these guys, they wouldn’t mess with him.

Below is a look at Malone doing it:

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As we have chronicled many times here at LBS, Blake Griffin often gets into it with opposing players. Why? Many of them are physically overpowered by him, so their answer is to cheap shot him. Griffin rarely retaliates, but he’s often ridiculed for “flopping.” Charles Barkley and Shaq said on “Inside the NBA” Thursday that Griffin needs to stand up for himself, and Karl Malone said the same thing on Friday.

The Mailman was a color commentator for ESPN’s telecast of the Utah Jazz-Golden State Warriors game on Friday night and talked about how much he likes Griffin. He then explained what advice he would offer the Clippers forward.

“I would love to spend some time with Blake Griffin,” Malone said. “I love that kid. First thing I’d do [is say], ‘Blake, the next time one guy cheap shots you, just lose your mind. I would pay your fine. Lose your mind, run roughshod … if a coach grab you, throw him too and say ‘I’m sorry coach.’

“I love the way this kid plays. I don’t like the cheap shots that people take at him,” Malone said.

Just a few weeks ago, Griffin was taken down by Samuel Dalembert during a game. In the playoffs last year, Zach Randolph tried to choke Griffin. Malone didn’t let anyone push him around on the court, so he’d like to do the same.

Malone is also an old school player and shared one thing about today’s game that bothers him.

“I’ll tell you what I can do without … I’ve never seen so much body armor on. Leave that for our military. They need it. All these leg armor and sleeves … my goodness gracious. I’m old school.”

Despite the complaint about all the armor, the Mailman said that there are a bunch of players in the game today whom he likes and respects.

As for the advice Malone, Shaq and Barkley have for Blake, he just better be careful about what kind of retaliation he pulls; he could end up suspended, not just fined if he follows their advice.