Moses Malone

Moses Eugene Malone (born March 23, 1955 in Petersburg, Virginia) is a former NBA basketball player who also played on the ABA, as well as on the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs and Washington Bullets. Malone played 21 seasons in the NBA. Before retiring from basketball, he was the last ABA participant to still be playing on the NBA.

Related Topics:
March 23 - 1955 - Petersburg, Virginia - NBA - Basketball - ABA - Atlanta Hawks - Houston Rockets - Milwaukee Bucks - Philadelphia 76ers - San Antonio Spurs - Washington Bullets

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Malone graduated from Petersburg High School to the ABA, being hired by the Utah Stars in 1974. He was among the first basketball players to jump straight from high school into the professional leagues.

Related Topics:
Petersburg High School - Utah Stars - 1974

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In two seasons in the ABA, Malone averaged 17.2 points and 13.9 rebounds per game. He played with the Stars and the Spirits of St. Louis.

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After the ABA was merged with the NBA, Malone became a member of the Buffalo Braves, having been drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers but traded to the Braves after the draft. After a short period of time there, he was shipped to the Houston Rockets. He caused an immediate impact in Houston, helping make the franchise a respectable one and reaching the NBA Finals in 1981, where they lost in six games to Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics. Malone was named the NBA's MVP that season.

Related Topics:
Buffalo Braves - Portland Trail Blazers - Houston Rockets - Houston - 1981 - Larry Bird - Boston Celtics - MVP

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After averaging 31 points per game the next season, he repeated as the NBA's MVP. He was, however, traded to the Philadelphia Sixers over the course of the next summer. In Philadelphia, he teamed up with Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, and Bobby Jones, among others, to win his only NBA championship when the Sixers swept Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1983 NBA Finals. Said head coach Billy Cunningham, "The difference from last year was Moses" (the Lakers had beaten the Sixers in the 1982 NBA Finals). Malone was named MVP of the 1983 Finals, as well as league MVP for the third time in a row. Before the 82-83 playoffs began, Malone made the famous prediction "fo' fo' fo'", claiming that the Sixers would sweep through the playoffs. In fact, the Sixers went "fo' five fo'", losing one game to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Related Topics:
Julius Erving - Maurice Cheeks - Bobby Jones - Magic Johnson - Los Angeles Lakers - 1983 - Billy Cunningham - Milwaukee Bucks

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Before the 1986-87 season, he was traded to the Bullets, but not before playing one season with legend in the making Charles Barkley. Once again, Malone helped his team reach a level of respectability with the Bullets, as they reached the NBA playoffs during the two seasons that Malone played with them. Malone then went on to star alongside Dominique Wilkins and Spud Webb on the Mike Fratello coached Atlanta Hawks of 1988-1989 and 1989-1990.

Related Topics:
1986 - 87 - Charles Barkley - Dominique Wilkins - Spud Webb - Mike Fratello - 1989 - 1990

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Malone then went on to the Milwaukee Bucks after the 1990-1991 season, remaining there until the summer of 1993.

Related Topics:
Milwaukee Bucks - 1991 - 1993

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Malone then rejoined the Sixers for a short period of time, participating with Manute Bol in what would be an injury plagued 1993-1994 season. In 1994, he was sent to the Spurs, where he played the back-up center role behind superstar David Robinson. 1994-1995 was his last season in the NBA. During one game that season, he hit a last second, three point shot thrown from the free throw line on the opposition's side of the court (3 quarters off the court away from his team's basket).

Related Topics:
Manute Bol - 1994 - David Robinson - 1995

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Malone became the first player in NBA history to earn five consecutive rebounding titles in five years after the 1984-1985 season, when he averaged 13 rebounds per game. During the latter years of his basketball career, he was also known for wearing thick glasses during games.

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Malone helped his high school team to 50 wins in a row, and a number of state championships. As a professional, he is one of the NBA's all time leaders in many categories, including points scored and rebounds. He was second only to Karl Malone in overall (NBA & ABA) free throws made, with a total of 9,018 and to Wilt Chamberlain in overall (NBA & ABA) free throws attempted, with a total of 11,090.

Related Topics:
Karl Malone - Wilt Chamberlain

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Malone was named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players in 1997. In 2001, he was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
NBA's 50 greatest players - 1997 - 2001 - Naismith - Basketball Hall of Fame

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