What is going on with these big guys passing way too soon? RIP Moses. NBA great Moses Malone dies at 60 By BRIAN MAHONEY (AP Basketball Writer)13 minutes agoAP - Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-great-moses-malone-dies-60-151323146--nba.html Moses Malone, a three-time NBA MVP and one of basketball's most ferocious rebounders, died Sunday. He was 60. Det. Jeffrey Scott of the Norfolk, Virginia Police Department confirmed that Malone died in a Norfolk hotel room. He said there was no indication of foul play. Malone's body was discovered when he failed to report to a celebrity golf tournament in which he was scheduled to play. Malone was part of the 76ers' 1983 NBA championship team, and the club said he will ''forever be remembered as a genuine icon and pillar of the most storied era in the history of Philadelphia 76ers basketball.'' A 6-foot-10 center who made the leap right from high school to the pros, Malone is the NBA's career leader in offensive rebounds and led the league in rebounds per game for five straight seasons from 1980-85. Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and attended the induction ceremonies for the year's class in Springfield, Massachusetts this weekend before returning to his native Virginia. Drafted by the Utah Stars of the ABA in 1974, Malone went on to play for eight NBA clubs and was the league's MVP in 1979 and 1982 while playing for the Houston Rockets. ''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.'' Malone joined the 76ers the following season and added his third MVP award while leading the 76ers to that championship after making his famed ''Fo', Fo', Fo','' prediction that the Sixers would win their playoff series in four-game sweeps. ''No one person has ever conveyed more with so few words - including three of the most iconic in this city's history,'' 76ers CEO Scott O'Neil said. ''His generosity, towering personality and incomparable sense of humor will truly be missed.''
Saw this. Terrible news. What's in the water these days? He and Chocolate Thunder are just too young to be gone.
I'll never forget my complete frustration watching Moses just manhandle Kareem in the Finals in the early 80s. He was the only player who could and did physically dominate Kareem. One of the all time greats.
In my opinion 5'th best center of all time. And one of the only few to become a legend in 2 diffrent francheises. RIP Moses.
R.I.P. Malone. I'd love to have watched him and O'Neal mix it up underneath. Two of the most physical centers I've ever seen.
Ive never seen him play in his prime. But from the stories, the stats, the mvps and the dominant championship.. im listing him above Hakeem.
High praise. I rank them equally. Moses in his prime was relentless and I was a big fan until he went to Philly, a team I hated more than the Celts at that time.
I have Hakeem just above Moses, but I wouldn't argue. He was a beast. His 83 Sixers team was one of the best of all time and he was the main cog on that team even more so than Doctor J.
At one time, Portland had him AND Bill Walton... If Malone had stayed there? He probably would have a decrepit, unfulfilled potential given the injuries to pivot men that did.
Unfortunately, they couldn't maintain it. Swept by the Nets the following season then after that flamed out in six against Bird and his crew.
That Sixers / Nets went the full 5 games. Both teams lost every home game. I talked about Dawkins having his career moment in his passing thread.
It did? I could've sworn I saw footage of then Nets guard Richardson pulling out a broom and mopping the floor after the last game. It must've been against another opponent.
