<P> Moses Eugene Malone (March 23, 1955--September 13, 2015) was an American basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1974 through 1995 . The center was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times and was a 12 - time NBA All - Star and an eight - time All - NBA selection . Malone won his only NBA championship in 1983, when he was both the league and Finals MVP with the Philadelphia 76ers . He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2001 . </P> <P> Malone began his pro career out of high school after he was selected in the third round of the 1974 ABA Draft by the Utah Stars . He was named an ABA All - Star as a rookie and played two seasons in the league until it merged with the NBA in 1976 . He landed in the NBA with the Buffalo Braves, who traded him after two games to the Houston Rockets . Malone became a five - time All - Star in six seasons with the Rockets . After leading the NBA in rebounding in 1979, he was named league MVP for the first time . He led the Rockets to the NBA Finals in 1981, and won his second MVP award in 1982 . Malone was traded to Philadelphia the following season, when he repeated as MVP and led the 76ers to a championship in his first year . In his first of two stints with Philadelphia, he was an All - Star in each of his four seasons . Following another trade, Malone was an All - Star in his only two seasons with the Washington Bullets (known later as the Wizards). He signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Hawks, earning his 12th straight and final All - Star selection in his first season . In his later years, he played with the Milwaukee Bucks before returning to the 76ers and completing his career with the San Antonio Spurs . </P> <P> Malone led the NBA in rebounding six times, including a then - record five straight seasons (1981--1985). He finished his career as the all - time leader in offensive rebounds after leading both the ABA and NBA in the category a combined nine times . Malone was nicknamed "Chairman of the Boards" for his rebounding prowess . Combining his ABA and NBA statistics, he ranks seventh all - time in career points (29,580) and third in total rebounds (17,834). He was named to both the ABA All - Time Team and the NBA's 50th Anniversary All - Time Team . </P> <P> Malone was born in Petersburg, Virginia . He was an only child, raised alone by his mother, Mary, who had dropped out of school after finishing the fifth grade . When Malone was two years old, Mary kicked her husband out due to his alcohol use . Malone's father then moved to Texas . </P>

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