Photo Credit: ESPN
Moses Malone is a legend in the basketball world, despite his untimely passing just a week ago his reputation among both fans and players is eternal. Just 60 when he passed from cardiovascular disease, he is clearly one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In his playing career, Malone collected accolades that most players only dream of, including 3 MVP awards, and an NBA title. Malone wasn’t a flashy player, a fact that causes him to be underrated by even the most obsessed basketball fanatics, but there was no denying his ability. Malone ranks first-all time in offensive rebounds at 7382 which is an incredible statistic in itself and possibly a record that will never be broken. He also was able to average more than 24.6 points and 23.6 rebounds consistently throughout the 1980’s. However as great as a player he was, many attest that he was a better man.
Charles Barkley who was once his teammate in Philadelphia offered a touching eulogy at Malone’s funeral explaining how he helped shape his career, saying:
“I never understood why a guy that great — because at that time, he was obviously on the downside of his career; he’d accomplished everything — I never understood why he took a little kid from Alabama under his wing,” Barkley continued. “[…] At the time, it was a struggle, but man, I cannot believe how lucky I am to, No. 1, have a father figure not only on my team but also living in my same building, staying on me consistently [to make sure] that I didn’t do anything, to keep me moving forward. And I always thanked him for that.”
Centers in the NBA are overlooked because they’re quiet and play a simple effective game, Moses was just that. All testimonials describe him as a humble guy, one who felt more praise belonged to former teammate Julius “Dr.J” Erving than himself. While he didn’t love the spotlight, Malone loved his teammates and the feeling was mutual, as former coach Carroll Dawson put it:
“He was about as loved as anybody I ever coached,”