September 13, 2015
Legendary Sixers center Moses Malone has died at the age of 60, the team confirmed Sunday.
Malone spent four seasons in Philadelphia from 1983-1986, before returning to the team in 1992 for one season.
He led Philadelphia to a championship in 1983 when the team beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals and he was named series MVP.
The center famously predicted the team would sweep through the playoffs that year, declaring "fo' fo' fo," hinting they would win each series only needing four games.
As it turns out, Malone was off by one game as the Sixers needed five contests to get by the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, making it "'fo' fi' fo'."
His long list of accomplishments include three league MVP awards, 12 all-star selections, being named one of the NBA's 50 best players of all time and induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.
Malone came to Philadelphia from the Houston Rockets. In 2013, former teammate Julius Erving recounted a story about a rude awakening the center got when he first came to the city.
He would later return to the Rockets and had his number retired by Houston.
R.I.P. to Rockets legend Moses Malone. You will be missed. #LegacyOfBigs pic.twitter.com/edUtmZbEjU
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) September 13, 2015
Fans lamented the news and remembered Malone's storied career Sunday.
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) September 13, 2015
“You just watch my action.” - Moses Malone pic.twitter.com/IPCgfNNRxQ
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) September 13, 2015
Crazy stat: In the 1978-79 season, 42 players grabbed at least 588 total rebounds. Moses grabbed 587 offensive boards that year.
— Zach Harper (@talkhoops) September 13, 2015
My condolences to the family and friends of Moses Malone. You will truly be missed. Rest in peace Big Mo!!!
— Allen Iverson (@alleniverson) September 13, 2015
Moses. You led my city to the promise land. Thank you. #RipMosesMalone #76ers #FoFiveFo https://t.co/nF098Hl1Is
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) September 13, 2015
This man died today. Thanks for the memories. Rest in Peace and Power, #MosesMalone pic.twitter.com/FTAYlGEQMP
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) September 13, 2015
Moses Malone was dominant, ruled offensive glass, led #sixers to title, won 3 MVPs - & sadly passed as incredibly underrated all-time great
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) September 13, 2015
You would struggle to find a Philadelphia athlete who had such an impact in such a short stint as Moses Malone did with the #sixers.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 13, 2015
Absolutely awful.
— Max Rappaport (@MaxRappaport) September 13, 2015
RIP', RIP', RIP' pic.twitter.com/Jvxs7FzJzj
— Kelly Dwyer (@KDonhoops) September 13, 2015
RIP Moses Malone. So sad to hear. Philly only has 2 championships over last 32 years... He led Sixers to one of those pic.twitter.com/GpUVydkBPM
— John Clark CSN (@JClarkCSN) September 13, 2015
You had the whole city of Philly on your back. Rest in Paradise. #MosesMalone pic.twitter.com/eIdQTFUsQR
— Jahlil Okafor (@JahlilOkafor) September 13, 2015
Former Sixer and current "Inside the NBA" analyst Charles Barkley released the following statement expressing his gratitude for Malone's mentorship:
"The man I called ‘Dad’ passed today. Words can’t explain my sadness. I will never know why a Hall of Famer took a fat lazy kid from Auburn and treated him like a son and got him in shape and made him a player. Every time I saw him I called him ‘Dad’. I hope he knew how much I appreciated and loved him."
The Sixers family has now suffered two heartbreaking losses in the past month. In August, Darryl Dawkins passed away at the age of 58.
