Why They Rank
Three MVPs, a championship run for the ages with the 1983 Sixers, and the greatest offensive rebounding in basketball history. Malone's 'Fo, Fo, Fo' prediction and subsequent near-perfect playoff run is one of basketball's most iconic moments.
The Career
Moses Malone is the greatest offensive rebounder in basketball history and one of the most dominant centers of the late 1970s and early 1980s. His three MVP awards, his championship with the 1983 Sixers — accompanied by the famous 'Fo', Fo', Fo'' prediction (they went 12-1 in the playoffs) — and his relentless pursuit of every missed shot make him one of the most impactful players ever.
Malone was the first player to go directly from high school to professional basketball, signing with the ABA's Utah Stars in 1974. His path from high school to Hall of Fame, without the traditional college pipeline, was pioneering. He proved that talent and work ethic could overcome the absence of college development, paving the way for future straight-to-pro players like Kobe, LeBron, and KG.
His 1982-83 season with the Sixers — where he won MVP and led the team to one of the most dominant championship runs in history — is his masterpiece. Paired with Julius Erving, Malone was the missing piece that turned a good team into an unstoppable one. His offensive rebounding in that playoff run was otherworldly, giving the Sixers second and third chances on possessions that opponents thought were over.
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