Sunday, NBA Legend Moses Malone died at the age of 60. He died of natural causes, Virginia medical examiners said.
- Malone was found dead in a Norfolk hotel Sunday morning.
- The office of the chief medical examiner said Monday, Malone’s cause of death was listed as hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
“With three MVPs and an NBA championship, he was among the most dominant centers ever to play the game and one of the best players in the history of the NBA and the ABA,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.
“Everyone in the organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Moses Malone,” Rockets owners Leslie Alexander said. “Moses was a true gentleman and one of the great Rockets and greatest NBA players of all time. He will be forever missed. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.”
NBA Legend Moses Malone was an American basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1974 through 1995. The center was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times, and was a 12-time NBA All-Star and an eight-time All-NBA selection. Malone won his only NBA championship in 1983, when he was both the league and Finals MVP with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001.
Malone was selected out of high school in the third round of the 1974 ABA Draft by the Utah Stars. He played two seasons in the ABA until the league merged with the NBA in 1976. Malone was a five-time All-Star and captured his first two MVP awards in six seasons with the Houston Rockets. He was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in 1982, leading them to a league championship in his first season. He played four seasons in his first stint with Philadelphia, and was an All-Star each season. Malone was an All-Star in each of his two seasons with the Washington Bullets (known later as the Wizards), and earned his 12th straight and final All-Star selection in his first season with the Atlanta Hawks in 1988–89. He played with the Milwaukee Bucks before returning to the 76ers, and completed his career with the San Antonio Spurs.
Malone led the NBA in rebounding six times, including a record five-straight times (1981–1985). He finished his career as the all-time leader in offensive rebounds after leading both the ABA and NBA in the category nine times. Malone was nicknamed “Chairman of the Boards” after his rebounding prowess. Combining his ABA and NBA statistics, he ranks seventh all-time in career points (29,580) and third in total rebounds (17,834). He was named to both the ABA All-Time Team and the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
NBA Legend Moses Malone finished his career with the most combined ABA and NBA offensive rebounds (7,382), 35 percent over runner-up Artis Gilmore. Nine times he led his respective league in offensive rebounds, and five other times he finished in the top-3. He also holds NBA records for the most offensive rebounds in a career (6,731), season (587), and game (21). Malone would often rebound his own misses. He was a 13-time All-Star, and earned eight All-NBA selections, ranking seventh all-time with 29,580 points, and third with 17,834 rebounds. He also ranks second all-time in free throws made (9,018) and attempted (11,864). Malone is one of just eight players who have been named NBA MVP three or more times. He led the league in rebounds six times, including five straight from 1980 through 1985. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001.IMAGE/AFP