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Moses Malone - The Nba Years

After his two seasons in the ABA, Malone joined the NBA in 1974, playing for the Buffalo Bravos and later for the Houston Rockets. Malone earned his first Most Valuable Player Award. Just two years later, in the 1980-81 season, he led the underdog Rockets all the way to the NBA finals.

The following season Malone was awarded his second Most Valuable Player award after averaging an impressive 31.1 point and 14.7 rebounds per game. During the off season the Rockets traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers where Malone was to reach the peak of his career. The 76ers roster boasted some of the league's all-time best players including Julius Erving, after Bobby Jones and Andrew Toney. With the addition of Malone the 76ers became unstoppable, going 65-17 for the regular season and steamrolling the postseason 12-1 to win the 1983 NBA championship. Malone was named MVP of the regular season and the NBA finals that year.

Chronology

1955 Born in Chesterfield County, Virginia
1968 Begins to play basketball at age 13
1973-74 Leads Petersburg High School to state victories and 50 consecutive wins
1974 Enrolls at University of Maryland; only attends two days of class.
1974 Drafted by Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association
1975 After Stars fold, plays remainder of season for ABA's St. Louis Spirit
1976 Selected by the NBA's Portland Trailblazers as the fifth overall pick in the ABA Dispersal Draft. Traded to Buffalo Braves before start of season. Plays two games with Braves then is traded to Houston Rockets.
1978-79 Leads league in rebounding. Sets NBA's all-time single season offensive rebound record (857)
1980-81 Leads team to NBA Finals
1981-82 Leads league in minutes played. Traded to Philadelphia 76ers
1983-84 Wins NBA Championship with 76ers
1984-85 Leads NBA in rebounding for fifth consecutive season, a league record
1985-86 Fractures orbit of right eye missing entire postseason. Traded to Washington Bullets.
1988-89 Signs as free agent with Atlanta Hawks.
1989-90 Scores 7,695th free throw to become NBA all-time leader. Breaks Wilt Chamberlain's record for most consecutive games without fouling out
1990-91 Signs with Milwaukee Bucks at the end of season
1992-93 Misses most of season due to back surgery
1993-94 Signs with 76ers as a free agent
1994-95 Signs with San Antonio Spurs as a free agent. Ruptures tendon in lowers right leg. Retires from basketball

Awards and Accomplishments

1975 Named to ABA All-Rookie Team
1975 Named to ABA All-Star Team
1979, 1982-83 Named NBA MVP three times
1979, 1982-83, Named All-NBA First Team four times
1983 Named NBA All-Defensive First Team
1983 Named NBA Finals MVP
2001 Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame

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