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Moses Malone’s tragic death rocked his family and the basketball world
Moses Malone made basketball history even before he played a single game. Moses Malone was the first player to go straight from high school to the pros, and he was a three-time MVP with the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers.
Malone’s lack of experience did not hinder him as he went on to have a 20-year NBA career.
Malone’s life was abruptly cut short at the age of 60 after his playing career had ended.
On September 13, 2015, he was meant to play in a charity golf tournament, but he never showed up.
The ABA basketball career of Moses Malone
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In Petersburg, Virginia, Moses Malone attended Petersburg High School.
He was the most dominant player on the team, which didn’t lose a game in his final two years.
Petersburg had won back-to-back state championships, and Malone was set to attend Maryland on a basketball scholarship.
However, the Utah Stars selected him in the third round of the 1974 ABA draft, and he decided to become a pro.
Malone was an ABA All-Star as a rookie for the Stars, averaging 18.8 points and 14.6 rebounds.
Malone was sent to the Spirits of St.
Louis after the Stars folded early in the 1975-76 season, where he averaged 14.3 points and 9.6 rebounds.
The ABA and the NBA amalgamated after the 1975-76 season, however, the Spirits of St.
Louis was not among the ABA clubs that joined the NBA.
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Malone in the 1976 NBA dispersal draft.
He was later dealt to the Buffalo Braves by the Blazers.
He was traded to the Houston Rockets after only two games with the Braves.
Malone is a standout in the NBA
Moses Malone was named an NBA All-Star in 1977-78, continuing a streak of 12 consecutive all-star appearances.
Malone appeared in 59 regular-season games as an all-star in his rookie season, yet he averaged 19.4 points and 15 rebounds per game.
Malone led the league in rebounds the next season, averaging 17.6 per game.
He also averaged 24.8 points per game and was voted league MVP.
Malone led the league in minutes played during the 1981-82 season, averaging 42 per game.
He also averaged 31.1 points and 14.7 rebounds per game and was named MVP for the second time.
Beginning in 1980-81, Malone led the NBA in rebounds for five consecutive seasons.
Malone was moved to the Philadelphia 76ers prior to the 1982-83 season.
Malone put up impressive numbers in his debut year with the team, averaging 24.5 points and 15.3 rebounds per game.
He was named the league’s MVP for the second time.
He was with the 76ers for four seasons before being traded to the Washington Bullets.
Malone had a career average of 20.3 points and 12.3 rebounds. In 2001, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Malone’s untimely death
Moses Malone left the NBA at the end of the 1994-95 season.
He was supposed to play in a celebrity golf event on September 13, 2015, but he was found dead in a hotel room in Norfolk, Virginia.
According to ESPN, Malone died of natural causes, with the cause of death listed as a hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by the Virginia medical examiner’s office.
The kid Malone described his father as his best buddy.
“He taught us so much about life despite the fact that he started from nothing,” Malone Jr. recalled.
“He taught us to work hard, to respect others, to love our families, and to always do the right thing.”
He’s a kind guy.
He was constantly willing to assist others. He was concerned about others who had less than he did.”
