Wednesday, 06 May 2026

Moses Malone

Contest: The US Athletics Hall of Fame - Athletes 2026
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Basketball
Statistics & Accolades: 1 NBA Championship (1983)
3 NBA MVPs (1979, 1982 & 1983)
4 All-NBA First Team Selections (1979, 1982, 1983 & 1985)
1 All-Defensive First Team Selection (1983)
12 NBA All-Star Games (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981,1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 & 1989)
1 ABA All-Star Game (1975)
6 Rebounding Titles (1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 & 1985)
29,850 NBA/ABA Points
17,834 NBA/ABA Rebounds
1,889 NBA/ABA Blocks
Member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Number Retired by the Philadelphia 76ers
Number Retired by the Houston Rockets
ABA All-Time Team
Named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team
Named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Moses Malone made history as the first basketball player to jump from high school to the professional ranks when he joined the Utah Stars of the ABA in 1974. Over a career spanning 21 seasons, "The Chairman of the Boards" established himself as perhaps the most relentless rebounder the game has ever seen, particularly on the offensive glass, where he remains the all-time leader. His peak years with the Houston Rockets saw him earn two of his three NBA Most Valuable Player awards (1979, 1982) and lead a massive underdog squad to the 1981 NBA Finals.

Malone’s career reached its zenith in 1983 after a blockbuster trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he famously predicted a postseason sweep with his "Fo', Fo', Fo'" catchphrase. He delivered on that promise by winning his third MVP, leading the Sixers to a nearly perfect 12-1 championship run, and earning Finals MVP honors after dominating the glass against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

A 13-time All-Star who was named to the NBA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary teams, Malone retired in 1995 as the only player in history to average 20 points and 10 rebounds for four different teams.

We are proud to nominate Moses Malone for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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