Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Moses Malone died Sunday at the age of 60.
The three-time NBA MVP, who was named the Finals MVP in 1983 after he led the Philadelphia 76ers to a championship, played for eight different teams over 20 NBA seasons. Malone, who was named an All-Star 12 times, averaged 20.6 points per game and 12.2 rebounds per game over the span of his career.
The 76ers released the following statement early Sunday morning:
"It is with a deep sense of sadness that the Sixers family mourns the sudden loss of Moses Malone. It is difficult to express what his contributions to this organization - both as a friend and player - have meant to us, the city of Philadelphia and his faithful fans. Moses holds a special place in our hearts and will forever be remembered as a genuine icon and pillar of the most storied era in the history of Philadelphia 76ers basketball. No one person has ever conveyed more with so few words - including three of the most iconic in this city's history. His generosity, towering personality and incomparable sense of humor will truly be missed. We will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers and as we are once again reminded of the preciousness of life."
One of the greatest to ever represent the city of Philadelphia. #FoFoFohttps://t.co/oTbrBf8yfy— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) September 13, 2015
R.I.P. to Rockets legend Moses Malone. You will be missed. #LegacyOfBigs pic.twitter.com/edUtmZbEjU— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) September 13, 2015
From Moses Malone's final game: A career mic drop. https://t.co/ZDXZLbEnK8— Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) September 13, 2015
Dwight Howard and Al Jefferson have a ton of rebounds to their name. Moses Malone pulled down more. Combined.— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) September 13, 2015
The '83 Sixers might have been the best team ever. And Moses Malone's arrival was the trigger for it all. Can't believe this ...— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 13, 2015
The last MVP from a sub-50-win team ... I've written that sentence about Moses Malone about a zillion times. Such sad, sad news— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 13, 2015
The first "team" I ever loved...the 82-83 76ers. I loved Moses Malone. I'd pretend I was him, miss on purpose, get rebound/fouled get the FT— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) September 13, 2015
Moses Malone: 1 of 4 players in NBA history with 25,000 pts & 15,000 rebounds, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 13, 2015
Crushed to read of the death of Moses Malone. What a great player he was, and so young. The '83 Sixers were the best team I ever saw. #RIP— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) September 13, 2015