Over the weekend, the Sports World lost one of the Basketball legends Mr. Moses Malone. He was only 60 years old. I caught the news of his passing through Social Media during a Sunday Night Football Game. When I checked Instagram, I was devastated. Just six months ago, I wrote a tribute article for Moses when he turned 60. It was a great presentation of his Career wrapped into one package. Now, I find myself writing about his passing. Even the local News Station broke the story about his death.
He was the ultimate blue-collar player that used nothing but pure work ethic and physicality to get the job done. Moses was the greatest rebounder of the post Chamberlain-Russell Era. One could make a counterargument for Dennis Rodman, but in the end I don't see it standing for long. Same with Malone's protege Charles Barkley.
Moses was very reserved and not very outspoken. He mumbled when he spoke, but his game spoke loudly when he was on the court.
Malone's brilliance as a rebounder was simple, he just went to the rack. Although he was not always the quickest, Moses kicked things in another gear once the ball bounced off the glass. When that happened, his natural instincts kicked in to grab the board. Moses was the definition of a "glass eater". He earned the nickname "Chairman of the Boards" because he commanded the paint.
Moses Malone was a pioneer for future High School players who became stars in the Pros when he jumped from Petersburg HS to the ABA in 1974.The blue-chip recruit from Petersburg had originally sent a letter of intent to join the University of Maryland under coach Lefty Driesell. However, his circumstances said otherwise. The paychecks were screaming louder than the classrooms and textbooks. As a rookie, his body looked nothing like the imposing rebounding machine that he eventually became. His rawness was only temporary, but soon he would develop a drop step along with his own fade away that were autodidactic (self-taught). Malone would join Julius Erving, George Gervin, and others in the NBA following the closure of the ABA in 1976. Dr. J and Iceman were the flashier names, but Moses made a huge impact of his own in a quiet way.
"The young Moses Malone had virtually no offensive moves other than a devastating ability to get the ball off the glass," former Utah Stars coach Tom Nissalke says in the ABA oral history Loose Balls. "He was so lightning-quick and just seemed to know where a rebound was going. I saw a playoff game in his rookie season where he had 38 rebounds, 23 of them off the offensive glass." Many other people including Hall of Fame Coach Larry Brown have considered Moses Malone to be the greatest offensive rebounder of all-time. Statistically, it is hard to argue because he is the all-time leader.
Malone was a standout star with the Houston Rockets. By the end of the 70's into the 80's, Moses took Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's place as the best Center on the planet. His three MVP Awards in five years speak for themselves. At that time, he pretty much had Kareem's number and that is hard for anyone else to say.
Moses carried a 40-42 Rockets team to the Finals. He claimed that his team could beat Boston with anybody from the playground of Petersburg. The Celtics won, but he put up the best fight that he could with that team. As we know in 1982, Malone was traded to the 76ers as Philadelphia gave up players like Darryl Dawkins, Caldwell Jones, and some draft picks. Moses essentially gift-wrapped an NBA Championship for Julius Erving in 1983. They were a great combination. Moses was quiet and straightforward while Dr. J was stylish and full of flair.
In an odd coincidence, Darryl Dawkins passed away three weeks ago at the age of 58. Both men share similarities as they were the first to come from High School to the Pros (Dawkins in 1975). They both reached their peak with the 76ers. Both played with Dr. J. However, that is where the similarities end.
Dawkins was a player that has become known as a spectacular sideshow that broke backboards but was never as accomplished. Meanwhile, Malone became one of the unsung warriors of the game with a first-ballot Hall of Fame Career. You could match his career with that of Dr. J himself, and you could find yourself being torn between the two. In the ultimate form of irony, the Sixers got rid of Chocolate Thunder to bring Moses in for them to reach the Promise Land. Both men have their share of connections.
Moses played for an NBA Record 21 Seasons (tied with Robert Parish). He was a workhorse until the very end. In 1996, Moses was honored as one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players and continues to be ranked as such by fans across the basketball world. In 2001, Malone was inducted into the Basketball HOF by long-time friend, fellow ABA alum and Championship teammate Julius Erving.
Malone played a style that left an impact on the game like no other player ever.
Rest In Peace Mr. Fo' Fo' Fo'.
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