Moses Malone

2.1. Early Life

Malone was born on March 23, 1955, in Petersburg, Virginia. He was an only child, raised predominantly by his mother, Mary, who had left school after the fifth grade. When Malone was two years old, his father moved out of their home due to his alcohol use, relocating to Texas.

2.2. High School Career

Malone attended Petersburg High School, where he played basketball for the school's Crimson Wave team. He quickly became a dominant force, leading his team to remarkable success. In his final two years, the team achieved an impressive 50-game undefeated streak and secured back-to-back Virginia state championships in 1973 and 1974. Malone's exceptional performance earned him national recognition, including the National High School Player of the Year award in 1974, and selections to the Parade All-American First Team in 1974 and the Parade All-American Fourth Team in 1973.

Initially, Malone signed a letter of intent to play college basketball for the University of Maryland under head coach Lefty Driesell. However, he ultimately chose to forgo college and enter professional basketball directly, a decision that would mark a significant moment in the sport's history.

3.1. Utah Stars (1974-1975)

After being selected by the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in the third round of the 1974 ABA Draft, Moses Malone made the unprecedented decision to become a professional basketball player directly out of high school. This move made him the first player in modern professional basketball to transition straight from high school to the pros. He signed a five-year contract with the Stars, reportedly worth 1.00 M USD.

At the time, Malone stood 6 in and weighed a relatively slender 215 lb ^{(215 lb)}. He began his professional career playing at the forward position until he gained enough muscle mass to effectively play at center. In his rookie season, Malone quickly dispelled any doubts about his ability to compete against more experienced players, averaging 18.8 points and 14.6 rebounds per game. His impressive debut earned him selections to both the ABA All-Star team and ABA All-Rookie honors. In the 1975 ABA Playoffs, Malone continued his strong performance, averaging 22.7 points, 17.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, though the Stars ultimately lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Following his rookie season, the Chicago Bulls attempted to draft him in the tenth round of the 1975 NBA draft, but their selection was deemed ineligible due to the NBA's four-year rule at the time.

3.2. Spirits of St. Louis (1975-1976)

Malone was sidelined with a leg injury during the early part of the 1975-76 ABA season while playing for the Utah Stars. Sixteen games into the season, the Stars franchise folded due to financial difficulties. To help settle the team's debts, Malone was sold to the ABA's Spirits of St. Louis, along with Utah teammates Ron Boone, Randy Denton, and Steve Green.

He played for the Spirits for the remainder of the 1975-76 season. The Spirits finished with a 35-49 record and did not qualify for the playoffs. In his two seasons with the ABA, Malone averaged 17.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, showcasing his consistent dominance on the boards and as a scorer.

4.1. Buffalo Braves (1976)

The ABA-NBA merger took place after the 1975-76 season, but the Spirits of St. Louis were not among the ABA teams that joined the NBA. Malone had previously been selected by the NBA's New Orleans Jazz in a December 1975 pre-merger draft for ABA players of undergraduate age. However, the NBA allowed the Jazz to place Malone into the 1976 ABA Dispersal Draft pool in exchange for the return of their first-round draft pick in 1977.

In the 1976 dispersal draft, which was held for players whose ABA teams did not merge into the NBA, Malone was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the fifth overall pick. The Blazers, who had also acquired power forward Maurice Lucas in the draft, chose Malone primarily for trading purposes, as their frontcourt already featured Lucas, Bill Walton, and Lloyd Neal, which meant Malone would see limited playing time. Prior to the first game of the 1976-77 season, Portland traded Malone to the Buffalo Braves for a first-round draft choice in the 1978 NBA draft and 232.00 K USD. Malone played only two games with Buffalo before the Braves, unable to meet his demands for playing time, traded him to the Houston Rockets in exchange for first-round draft picks in the 1977 and 1978 drafts.

4.2. Houston Rockets (1976-1982)

Malone's tenure with the Houston Rockets marked his emergence as an elite player, where he earned two MVP awards and led the team to its first NBA Finals appearance.

4.3. Philadelphia 76ers (1982-1986)

Malone's move to the Philadelphia 76ers ushered in a championship era for the franchise, highlighted by his third MVP award and a Finals MVP.

4.4. Washington Bullets (1986-1988)

Shortly after the 1985-86 season, Philadelphia traded Malone, Terry Catledge, and two first-round draft picks to the Washington Bullets in exchange for Jeff Ruland and Clifford T. Robinson. Malone quickly bounced back from his injury-shortened previous campaign, averaging 24.1 points and 11.3 rebounds in his first season with the Bullets. He was named to his 10th consecutive All-Star Game and again earned a spot on the All-NBA Second Team. Malone was the only player in the league to finish in the top 10 in both points per game (ninth) and rebounds per game (ninth).

On April 12, Malone scored his 20,000th NBA point against the Detroit Pistons. He also scored 50 points against the New Jersey Nets on April 8, joining Earl Monroe (56) and Phil Chenier (52) as the only Bullets players ever to score 50 points in a game. Washington made a postseason appearance but was swept by the Pistons in the first round, with Malone averaging 20.7 points and 12.7 rebounds in the series.

In his 12th NBA season (1987-88), Malone continued to be a productive player, ranking eighth in the NBA in rebounding (11.2 rpg) and 19th in scoring (20.3 ppg). He was named to his 11th consecutive All-Star Game in 1988. Malone scored in double figures in 76 of his 79 games and recorded 55 double-doubles for the year. The Bullets reached the 1988 NBA Playoffs, but they lost to Detroit 3-2 in their first-round series, with Malone averaging 18.6 points and 11.2 rebounds in the series.

4.5. Atlanta Hawks (1988-1991)

Moses Malone's time with the Atlanta Hawks saw him continue to be a consistent performer, though the team's playoff success was limited.

4.6. Milwaukee Bucks (1991-1993)

As a free agent after the 1990-91 season, Malone signed a two-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, reportedly earning 1.60 M USD in the first season and 2.00 M USD for the second. Malone returned to a starting role at center during the 1991-92 season, averaging 15.6 points and 9.1 rebounds while playing in all 82 games. He led the Bucks in rebounding and finished second on the team in scoring. He scored a season-high 30 points twice and grabbed 19 rebounds against the Seattle SuperSonics on March 27. Milwaukee finished with a 31-51 record, tied for last place in the Central Division with the Charlotte Hornets.

After one practice in training camp in October 1992, Malone was sidelined due to a herniated disc in his back. After attempting to play through the pain, he decided to undergo surgery in November. Recovery from the surgery caused Malone to miss the majority of the 1992-93 season. He returned to the Bucks on March 27, appearing in 11 games during the remainder of the season. Struggling with a roster of younger players, the Bucks finished 28-54 and last in the Central Division.

4.7. Return to Philadelphia (1993-1994)

The Philadelphia 76ers signed Malone as a free agent in August 1993, bringing him back to the team where he won a championship. His primary role in this second stint was to serve as a backup and mentor to the 7 in rookie center Shawn Bradley. Malone appeared in 55 games as a reserve for the 76ers, averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds.

4.8. San Antonio Spurs (1994-1995)

In 1994, Malone signed with the San Antonio Spurs, where he was utilized as a back-up center to superstar David Robinson. The 1994-95 NBA season marked his final year in the NBA, and at that time, he held the distinction of being the only remaining active former ABA player. In the final game of his NBA career, against the Charlotte Hornets, Malone famously hit a buzzer-beating three-point shot from the opposing free throw line, approximately 74 ft away from the basket. He played 17 games for the Spurs before retiring.

5.1. Physical Attributes and Nickname

Malone stood 6 in tall and weighed 260 lb ^{(260 lb)}. While not the tallest center, especially compared to some of his peers, his strength and relentless energy compensated for any height disadvantage. He was famously nicknamed the "Chairman of the Boards" due to his unparalleled prowess in rebounding, particularly on the offensive end.

5.2. Playing Style and Strengths

Malone was described as "relentless" and "a force on the boards like no other." His playing style was characterized by ferocious effort and physical play, often pounding his opponents into submission. He was particularly notable for his ability to rebound and score off his own missed shots, possessing the unique combination of strength, quickness, and zeal to recover the ball before his opponents. This distinctive skill led some to contend that he intentionally missed shots to pad his rebounding statistics. Beyond his rebounding, Malone was also a skilled scorer, capable of consistently putting up high point totals.

5.3. Weaknesses

Despite his dominance in scoring and rebounding, Malone was not known for his passing abilities. When Carroll Dawson, an assistant coach with the Rockets, suggested that Malone needed to improve his passing, he famously replied, "They ain't paying me to pass," highlighting his focused and pragmatic approach to his role on the court.

6.1. NBA Awards

• NBA Champion: 1983
• NBA Finals MVP: 1983
• 3× NBA MVP: 1979, 1982, 1983
• 12× NBA All-Star: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
• 4× All-NBA First Team: 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985
• 4× All-NBA Second Team: 1980, 1981, 1984, 1987
• NBA All-Defensive First Team: 1983
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team: 1979
• 6× NBA Rebounding Champion: 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985

6.2. ABA Honors

• ABA All-Star: 1975
• ABA All-Rookie First Team: 1975

6.3. Team and League Honors

• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Class of 2001
• No. 2 retired by the Philadelphia 76ers (February 8, 2019)
• No. 24 retired by the Houston Rockets (1998)
• NBA 50th Anniversary Team: 1996
• NBA 75th Anniversary Team: 2021
• ABA All-Time Team: 1997
• National High School Player of the Year: 1974
• Parade All-American First Team: 1974
• Parade All-American Fourth Team: 1973

6.4. Hall of Fame

Moses Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001, a testament to his enduring impact and legendary career. In 2022, The Athletic ranked him as the 18th greatest player in NBA history as part of their NBA 75th Anniversary commemoration. In addition to retiring Malone's jersey number, the 76ers also unveiled a statue in front of the team's training facility in Camden, New Jersey on February 8, 2019.

7.1. ABA and NBA Combined Statistics

Combining his statistics from both the ABA and NBA, Malone's career totals are among the highest in professional basketball history. He played a total of 1,455 games across 21 seasons.

7.2. Key Career Milestones

Malone is one of only three players in professional basketball history to exceed 28,000 points and 17,000 rebounds, alongside Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He also ranks second all-time in free throws made (9,018) and attempted (11,864). Malone is one of just eight players who have been named NBA MVP three or more times. He led the league in rebounds six times, including five straight seasons from 1980 through 1985.

Significant scoring and rebounding milestones include:

• Scoring his 15,000th NBA point on November 28, 1984.
• Grabbing his 10,000th NBA rebound on March 29, 1985.
• Scoring his 20,000th NBA point on April 12, 1987.
• Scoring his 25,000th career point on November 21, 1990.
• Recording his 15,000th career rebound on March 15, 1991.
• Becoming the NBA career leader in free throws made with 7,695 on November 3, 1990, surpassing Oscar Robertson.
• Surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's mark of consecutive games without fouling out with his 1,046th straight game on April 19, 1991.

7.3. Records Held

Moses Malone holds several notable records, particularly for his offensive rebounding. He finished his career with the most combined ABA and NBA offensive rebounds (7,382), a figure 35 percent higher than the runner-up, Artis Gilmore. He led his respective league in offensive rebounds a combined nine times, and finished in the top three on five other occasions. He also holds NBA records for the most offensive rebounds in a career (6,731), a single season (587), and a single game (21).

8.1. Family and Marriage

Malone was married to Alfreda Gill, and together they had two sons, Moses Eugene Jr. and Michael Malone.

8.2. Divorce and Legal Issues

Alfreda Gill filed for divorce in September 1991, citing irreconcilable differences, cruelty, and adultery. In June 1992, she obtained a restraining order, which mandated Malone to refrain from contact with her during the ongoing lawsuit. At that time, Malone publicly denied allegations that he had abused his wife or threatened to kill her. The divorce was officially granted in October 1992.

In January 1993, Malone was arrested in Galveston, Texas, across Galveston Bay from his former wife's home. The arrest was for having violated a peace bond that Alfreda had obtained. Her affidavit for the bond's issuance alleged that Malone had stalked her, illegally entered her home in League City, Texas, damaged her property, and threatened to kill her. Malone posted bail and was subsequently released.

Later in his life, Malone dated Leah Nash, whom he met in 2006. They did not marry or live together but had a son, Micah Francois Malone, who was six years old at the time of Malone's death.

10.1. On-court Impact

Malone was a revolutionary player, particularly in his approach to rebounding. His relentless pursuit of the ball, especially on the offensive glass, redefined the center position and set new standards for effort and tenacity. He was a dominant scorer and rebounder who consistently put up impressive numbers throughout his long career, proving that a player could achieve greatness through sheer will and physical dominance. His ability to create second and third opportunities for his team through offensive rebounds was a game-changing skill that few players have matched.

10.2. Mentorship

Beyond his individual achievements, Malone was also known for his quiet but impactful role as a mentor to younger players. He took future Hall of Famers like Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon under his wing, sharing his wisdom and work ethic. For instance, he famously helped Barkley get into better shape early in his career. Later, during his second stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, he served as a backup and mentor to rookie center Shawn Bradley, demonstrating his willingness to guide the next generation of talent.

10.3. Historical Assessment

Moses Malone is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of basketball. Despite his three MVP awards, an NBA championship, and numerous statistical records, he is often considered one of the most underrated players in NBA history. This perception stems from his no-nonsense, blue-collar approach to the game, which prioritized results over flash. He was "absolutely relentless" and famously "let his prodigious game do the talking," preferring to focus on his performance rather than seeking the spotlight. His consistent excellence and groundbreaking achievements, such as being the first modern player to go directly from high school to the pros, solidify his unique and significant place in the sport's annals.

11.1. Regular Season

11.2. Playoffs