Moses Malone

Moses Malone was a legendary American professional basketball player. He played the position of center, which means he worked primarily near the basket. He was famous for being a tireless and physical player. Because of his incredible skill at grabbing missed shots, people called him the "Chairman of the Boards." This nickname honored his prowess in rebounding. Malone is widely regarded as one of the greatest centers in the history of the sport. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, his first year of eligibility.

Malone's playing style relied on strength and physical endurance. When he began his professional career, he was somewhat skinny. He initially played the position of forward. As he grew, he bulked up his body to handle the rigors of playing center. This physical development allowed him to dominate the area near the hoop. He became a master of the offensive rebound, which is catching the ball immediately after a teammate's shot misses. He finished his career as the all-time leader in offensive rebounds. He led both the ABA and the NBA in this category a combined nine times.

His journey began in Petersburg, Virginia. He was an only child raised by his mother, Mary. At Petersburg High School, he played for the Crimson Wave. His team was highly successful, going undefeated in his final two years. They won back-to-back Virginia state championships during that time. In 1974, Malone made history. He became the first player in the modern era to enter professional basketball directly from high school. He signed a five-year contract worth $1 million with the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association (ABA).

Malone's career spanned two major professional leagues. He began in the ABA with the Utah Stars and the Spirits of St. Louis. In 1976, the ABA merged with the National Basketball Association (NBA). This merger changed the landscape of professional basketball. Malone entered the NBA through the 1976 ABA Dispersal Draft. He was first selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. However, they traded him to the Buffalo Braves before the first game of the season. After playing only two games for Buffalo, he was traded to the Houston Rockets.

During his six seasons with the Houston Rockets, Malone became a superstar. He was a five-time All-Star during this period. In the 1978–79 season, he won his first NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He also set an all-time single-season record with 587 offensive rebounds. In 1981, he led the Rockets to the NBA Finals. He won his second MVP award during the 1981–82 season. During that year, he averaged 31.1 points and 14.7 rebounds per game. He also led the league in minutes played, averaging 42.0 per game.

In 1982, Malone joined the Philadelphia 76ers. This move led to one of the most significant seasons in NBA history. In 1983, he led the 76ers to an NBA championship. He defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in a 4–0 sweep in the NBA Finals. Malone was named both the league MVP and the Finals MVP that year. He became the only player to win the MVP award in consecutive seasons while playing for two different teams. He was an All-Star in every one of his four seasons with Philadelphia. He also earned All-NBA and All-Defensive honors during his time there.

Malone played for several other teams as his career continued. He played for the Washington Bullets, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Milwaukee Bucks. He eventually returned to the 76ers for a second stint. He finished his professional career playing for the San Antonio Spurs. Throughout his career, he was selected as an NBA All-Star 12 times. He was also named to the All-NBA Team eight times. His statistical legacy is massive. He ranks tenth all-time in career points with 29,580. He also ranks third in total rebounds with 17,834. These numbers cement his place among the elite athletes in basketball history.