Moses Malone Biography: An NBA Icon’s Inspiring Journey To Professional Basketball And How He Became A Champion

• Moses Malone won three MVPs during his NBA career

• Malone led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1983 NBA championship over the Los Angeles Lakers

• Malone led the league in rebounds six times

Moses Malone was one of the most dominant players in the history of the NBA. His journey on and off the court is a story of perseverance, dedication, and hard work. 

Malone’s legacy was cemented with his induction into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2001, but his story goes beyond his accomplishments on the court. He was a true icon who inspired a generation of basketball players and fans alike.

From his humble beginnings in Virginia to his rise to stardom in the NBA, Malone left an indelible mark on the sport of basketball. In this article, we will explore the life and career of this NBA legend and delve into the factors that made him such a dominant force in the league. We’ll also take a look at the challenges he faced off the court and the legacy he leaves behind.

This is the biography of Moses Malone.

Moses Malone’s Childhood And Introduction To Basketball

Moses Malone was born on March 23, 1955, in Petersburg, Virginia. Growing up, he faced financial hardships and had to help support his family by working odd jobs such as shining shoes and selling newspapers.

Despite these challenges, Malone found a passion for basketball when he was 13 and spent most of his free time playing the sport. He played at Petersburg High School and quickly became a dominant force on the court.

Malone led his team to two straight undefeated seasons, winning 50 consecutive games. This led to Malone’s high school winning back-to-back state titles in 1973 and 1974.

Malone initially agreed to attend the University of Maryland, but before the season started, he decided to skip college and take his talents to the professional level. This led to Malone becoming the first person to play professional basketball out of high school in 1974, but it wouldn’t be with the NBA.

Moses Malone’s ABA Career

At the time Moses Malone skipped college to play basketball, which was in the old American Basketball Association (ABA), it was looked at as a controversial decision, as scouts and coaches believed that college provided the necessary experience and maturity for players to succeed at the professional level.

However, Malone proved the skeptics wrong with his dominant play on the court. He was a natural talent with a fierce work ethic, and his stats spoke for themselves. In his rookie year, he averaged an impressive 18.8 points and 14.6 rebounds per game for the Utah Stars.

Malone was named an ABA All-Star and earned ABA All-Rookie honors. In his first season, Malone led the Stars to the playoffs, where they’d lost 4-2 to the Denver Nuggets. Despite the loss, Malone played well, averaging 22.7 points, 17.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.

In his second season, the Utah Stars folded as a franchise after just 26 games played. This led to Malone’s contract being sold to the Spirits of St. Louis. Malone and his new team would not make the playoffs, and this would be the end of his ABA career, as the NBA/ABA merger was getting ready to take place.

Still, Malone’s success paved the way for other high school players to follow in his footsteps. In his two seasons playing in the ABA, Malone averaged 17.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

Moses Takes His Talents To The NBA And Becomes An MVP And Champion

When the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, Malone was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the fifth overall pick. Malone would not play for Portland as he was traded to the Buffalo Braves before the season started.

Malone’s time in Buffalo would only last slightly longer than his tenure in Portland. After playing in just two games with the Braves, Malone was traded to the Houston Rockets.

During his time with the Rockets, Malone continued to impress on the court. As a rookie, Malone set a then NBA record of grabbing 437 offensive rebounds in a season. Despite averaging 13.2 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game as a rookie, Malone shockingly did not win Rookie of the Year or make the All-Rookie Team.

Malone would continue to get better and prove to the Houston Rockets that they made the correct decision to trade for him. The big man would go on to lead the league in rebounding for three out of the next four seasons from 1979 to 1982.

Malone’s high in rebounds per game during that span, and his career, came in the 1978-79 season when he averaged 17.6 rebounds per game, to go along with 24.8 points and 1.5 blocks per game.

The 1978-79 would be the first season where Malone won the NBA’s MVP award, as he led the Rockets to a 47-35 record. The Rockets would lose in the opening round 2-0 to the Atlanta Hawks.

Only two years later, Malone would lead the Rockets to the NBA Finals to face the Larry Bird-led Boston Celtics. Malone had a good series, putting up averages of 22.3 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.

But it wasn’t enough to stop the Celtics, as Boston defeated Malone’s Rockets 4-2. The following season, Malone would win his second MVP award after averaging 31.1 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.

Malone’s numbers were great, but his MVP win came as a bit of a shock as the Rockets only won 46 games during the season. In the playoffs, the Rockets would lose 2-1 in the opening round to the Seattle SuperSonics, marking the end of Malone’s career in Houston.

After the season ended, Malone became a restricted free agent and signed a six-year $13.2 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Rockets were bringing in a new owner at the time, and he didn’t believe Malone was worth the money, so he let him walk to Philadelphia.

This move would turn out to be the best of Malone’s entire basketball career. In his first season with the 76ers, the 1982-83 season, Malone led the 76ers to a 65-17 record, the best in the NBA.

Malone would win his second straight MVP with averages of 24.5 points, 15.3 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. The 76ers would reach the NBA Finals, giving Malone one more crack at becoming an NBA Champion.

This time, Malone would not be denied. The 76ers played the Los Angeles Lakers, and Malone proved to be too much for LA to handle.

The 76ers swept the Lakers 4-0 to win the title as Malone was named Finals MVP by putting up averages of 25.8 points, 18.0 rebounds, and 1.5 rebounds per game on 50.7% shooting. This Finals performance alone puts Moses Malone in the discussion as one of the greatest players of all time.

Malone would never reach another NBA Finals and play until the 1994-95 season. After leaving the Philadelphia 76ers in 1986-87, Malone would play for the Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, back in Philadelphia for one year, and finally played for the San Antonio Spurs before retiring at the age of 40.

Malone finished his 19-year career in the NBA with averages of 20.6 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Altogether, he played 21 years of professional basketball when you count his first two years with the ABA.

During his time in the NBA, Malone was a 3x MVP, 12x NBA All-Star, 6x NBA rebounding leader, 4x All-NBA First Team, 4x All-NBA Second Team, NBA All-Defensive First Team in 1983, NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1979, and a Hall of Famer, being selected in 2001.

These was truly incredible numbers and achievements, especially from a player who skipped college and went straight to the pros. If it wasn’t for Moses Malone, we might have never seen players like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James make the leap from high school to the NBA.

After retiring from the NBA, Malone stayed out of the public eye for the most part, other than some legal issues, like in 1993 when he was arrested for violating a restraining order by his ex-wife Alfreda Gill when he drove past her house. Together, Malone and Gill had two sons, Moses Eugene Jr., and Michael Malone.

On September 13, 2015, Malone tragically passed away in his sleep from heart disease. He was just 60 years old. At the time of his death, Malone had another son, 6-year-old Micah Francois Malone, to his girlfriend Leah Nash.

Moses Malone was an NBA icon who left a lasting impact on and off the court. He was known for his exceptional skills, dedication, and his hard work. He was one of the most dominant centers in NBA history, and his Hall of Fame induction was a testament to his greatness.

Malone’s work ethic was unparalleled, and he proved that through his multiple MVP awards, All-Star selections, and his championship win. He was a true leader who inspired his teammates, and his passion for the game was evident every time he stepped on the court.

Moses Malone will always be remembered as one of the greatest NBA players of all time, and his journey, both on and off the court, will continue to inspire generations to come.

Rest in peace, Moses Malone. 

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