65 Facts About Moses Malone

Moses Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport's history, Moses Malone is seen as one of the most underrated players in NBA history.

Moses Malone began his professional career out of high school after he was selected in the third round of the 1974 ABA draft by the Utah Stars.

Moses Malone was named an ABA All-Star as a rookie and played two seasons in the league until it merged with the NBA in 1976.

Moses Malone landed in the NBA with the Buffalo Braves, who traded him after two games to the Houston Rockets.

Moses Malone became a five-time All-Star in six seasons with the Rockets.

Moses Malone led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981, and won his second MVP award in 1982.

Moses Malone signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks, earning his 12th straight and final NBA All-Star selection in his first season.

Moses Malone was a tireless and physical player who led the NBA in rebounding six times, including a then-record five straight seasons.

Moses Malone was named to the ABA All-Time Team along with the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams.

Moses Malone was an only child, raised primarily by his mother, Mary, who had dropped out of school after finishing the fifth grade.

When Moses Malone was two years old, Mary forced her husband to move out of their home due to his alcohol use.

Moses Malone attended Petersburg High School, where he played basketball for the school's Crimson Wave.

Moses Malone signed a letter of intent to play college basketball for the University of Maryland under head coach Lefty Driesell.

Moses Malone was sold to the ABA's Spirits of St Louis to help pay down the Stars' debts, alongside Utah teammates Ron Boone, Randy Denton, and Steve Green.

Moses Malone had already been selected by the NBA's New Orleans Jazz in a December 1975 pre-merger draft for ABA players of undergraduate age.

Moses Malone appeared in 82 games overall for both Buffalo and Houston and finished the season averaging 13.2 points per game with 13.1 rebounds per game, ranking third in rpg.

Moses Malone set a then-NBA record with 437 offensive rebounds in a season, going on to surpass the mark two years later.

Moses Malone blocked 2.21 shots per game, the seventh-most in the league.

Moses Malone's scoring improved to 19.4 ppg, and he made his first appearance in an NBA All-Star Game in 1978.

Moses Malone again led the league in offensive rebounds, setting an all-time single-season record with 587 offensive rebounds.

Moses Malone was voted to the All-NBA First Team and the All-Defensive Second Team.

Moses Malone was voted by fans to start for the East at center in the 1979 NBA All-Star Game.

Moses Malone averaged 24.5 points and 20.5 rebounds in the two games.

Moses Malone was named an All-Star for a third straight season and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Moses Malone finished second in scoring to Adrian Dantley.

Moses Malone repeated as the NBA leader in rebounds and was the runner-up for the league's scoring title to George Gervin.

Moses Malone was the league leader in offensive rebounds and minutes played.

Moses Malone was named the league MVP for the second straight year, becoming the only NBA player ever to win the award in consecutive seasons with two different teams, a feat matched only by Barry Bonds in the four major American sports leagues.

That year, Moses Malone averaged 15.3 rebounds per game, which led the league for the third consecutive year, and averaged 24.5 points, which was fifth-best in the NBA.

Moses Malone was an All-Star for the sixth consecutive season and earned first-team honors on both the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams.

In 13 playoff games, Moses Malone averaged 26.0 points with 15.8 rebounds.

Moses Malone scored 22.7 ppg in his second season with Philadelphia and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Moses Malone was selected again for the All-Star Game but he was unable to play because of an ankle injury.

When he reported to training camp at 300 pounds, Moses Malone began to mentor him, encouraging him to get in better shape.

Moses Malone was voted by a fan ballot to the All-Star team for the eighth time and finished the season with 24.6 ppg, which ranked ninth-best in the league.

Moses Malone received his fourth All-NBA First Team honor and finished third in the NBA Most Valuable Player Award balloting; the award was won by Larry Bird.

Moses Malone averaged 23.8 points with 11.8 rebounds in 74 appearances that season.

Moses Malone ranked seventh in the league in scoring and fourth in rebounding, ending his five-season streak as the NBA rebounding champion.

Moses Malone was named an All-Star, but he was not named to the All-NBA Team, the first time he was not selected since 1978.

Moses Malone was named to his 10th consecutive All-Star Game and again was named to the All-NBA Second Team.

Moses Malone was the only player to finish in the top 10 in both ppg and rpg; he placed ninth in both categories.

Moses Malone averaged 20.7 points and 12.7 rebounds in the series.

Moses Malone was named to his 11th consecutive All-Star Game in 1988.

Moses Malone scored in double figures in 76 of 79 games and recorded 55 double-doubles for the year.

Moses Malone averaged 18.6 points with 11.2 rebounds in the series.

Moses Malone was voted by a fan ballot to the 1989 NBA All-Star Game, which was his 12th straight and final appearance.

Moses Malone reached double figures in points in 75 of his 81 games and recorded double figures in rebounds 55 times.

Moses Malone led the NBA with 364 offensive rebounds and tied for eighth in rpg.

Moses Malone led the Bucks in rebounding and finished second on the team in scoring.

Moses Malone appeared in 55 games as a reserve for the 76ers, averaging 5.3 points with 4.1 rebounds.

In 1994, Moses Malone signed with the San Antonio Spurs, where he was used as a back-up center to David Robinson.

Moses Malone finished his career with the most combined ABA and NBA offensive rebounds, 35 percent over runner-up Artis Gilmore.

Moses Malone holds NBA records for the most offensive rebounds in a career, season, and game.

Moses Malone was a 13-time All-Star, and earned eight All-NBA selections, ranking ninth all-time with 29,580 points, and third with 17,834 rebounds.

Moses Malone is one of three players to exceed 28,000 points and 17,000 rebounds.

Moses Malone is one of just eight players who have been named NBA MVP three or more times.

Moses Malone led the league in rebounds six times, including five straight from 1980 through 1985.

Moses Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001.

Moses Malone got a restraining order in June 1992, ordering Malone to refrain from contact with her during the course of the lawsuit.

In January 1993, Moses Malone was arrested driving in Galveston, Texas, across Galveston Bay from his former wife's home, for having violated a peace bond Alfreda had obtained.

Moses Malone dated Leah Nash, whom he had met in 2006, though they did not marry nor live together.

Moses Malone died in his sleep from heart disease at the age of 60, on the morning of September 13,2015, at a hotel in Norfolk, Virginia.

Moses Malone had been scheduled to play in a charity golf tournament that day and was found unresponsive in his room when he did not appear for breakfast or answer his phone.

Moses Malone had previously complained of an irregular heartbeat and was reported to have been wearing a heart monitor when he died.