Author Paul Knepper has taken on a difficult assignment here. It's not easy to put all of the pieces together in the life and times of Moses Malone.
The basketball superstar had all sorts of twists and turns in his career. Knepper documents many of them in his book, "Moses Malone." That's a good idea, since most Hall of Famers deserve some sort of biographical treatment ... and Moses wasn't the most forthcoming person in the world with his public.
Certainly Malone's experiences as a youth explain part of the story. He grew up in single parent home in Petersburg, Virginia, as Moses' father was kicked out of the house by his mother at the age of 2. Mom did a heroic job of making sure that Moses had clothes on his back and food on the table, although the rest of the family joined together to help out too.
As for Moses, he picked up basketball at the age of 13. By the time he was in high school, Malone had started to become good at the game - in part because he kept growing and growing (his 6-foot-10 eventually height was quite a contrast to his mother's 5-2 frame) and in part because he kept working at it. By junior year, he had led his high school to an undefeated season and a state championship. Malone had placed a note in a Bible that he'd be the best high school player in the country. After that season, he wrote another note that read he'd be the first person ever to jump from high school to the pros.
The route was difficult everywhere but on the court. There the Petersburg school again went unbeaten, and Malone remained the top college prospect in the nation. That sent a barrel of scouts and coaches chasing after him, some offering "fringe benefits." Maryland eventually won that battle, but it was a short-lived triumph. The American Basketball Association was losing its battle with the more established NBA, and was desperate for players. A pro contract convinced Malone to skip college and join Utah of the pros.
Malone was raw, of course, but no one outworked him - on the court or off. He was the most determined rebounder in the game, and most of his points came off offensive rebounds. Malone also worked year round to improve his game in all areas. When the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976, Moses was thrown into limbo since his second ABA team, St. Louis, didn't enter the combined league. He went to Portland, which wanted to trade him since Bill Walton was already there. Malone was dealt to Buffalo, where problems with the coach and a dispute over playing time led to a quick trade to Houston.
That's where everything clicked. Malone soon became a dominating force with the Rockets, leading them to the NBA Finals once and winning MVP and All-League honors. No one was anxious to play a somewhere mediocre Houston team, because Moses was capable of stealing a game. When contracts got in the way of that relationahship, Malone jumped to the Philadelphia 76ers. He was the missing link for the Sixers, who won the NBA title in 1982. Moses stayed through 1986, although Philadelphia couldn't duplicate the magic in that era.
We didn't know it yet, but - as Knepper effectively points out - Malone's best days were behind him at 30. Perhaps Moses had just worn himself down. He bounced through several teams with decreasing effectiveness in the years to come. Malone retired in 1995 after 21 years as a pro. He somewhat disappeared from the public eye at that point, serving as an assistant coach in the NBA briefly and playing lots of golf. Malone died at the age of 60 of heart disease.
The book makes it clear that Malone was much better as a private friend than as a public figure. Moses certainly had a shy side that began as a child. That's not surprising for someone who was so tall, had a voice so deep it was difficult to understand, and some dental problems. Mix all that with the poor background and subpar schools, and some assumed that Malone simply wasn't that bright. But the superficial reading seems to be wrong. Many associates - including business people - say Malone actually was quite sharp on the court and off it. Teammates here recount how Malone often helped them adjust to the NBA game, and stayed friends in retirement - from stars to bench-warmers.
Malone's biggest problem probably was with personal romantic relationships. He had too many of them, particularly when he was married. Malone also was charged with physical abuse of his wife, and was said to have made threats to her after the divorce. While it's tough to know the complete story from a distance, the episodes leave a very poor impression behind. Malone also had moments of great generosity and other moments of severe frugality. Moses wouldn't be the only basketball player to come out of poor surroundings without terrific money management skills.
Malone died before getting his version of his life's events down on paper, and he probably wouldn't have been interested in doing so anyway. By definition, then, Malone's story has to be told more or less from the outside looking in. "Moses Malone" does feel a little like there's a hole in the middle of the story, but there's certainly value in finding out more about this basketball star who during the early 1980s was right up there with Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in terms of ranking with the NBA's best.
Four stars
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