As one of the most talked-about figures, Moses Malone has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.
What was Moses Malone's Net Worth?
Following the 1975-76 season, the ABA merged with the NBA. However, Malone's team, the Spirits of St. Louis, was not chosen to join the NBA. As a result, he was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers. However, the Blazers traded him to the Buffalo Braves before the start of the 1976-77 season. Malone ended up playing just two games with the Braves before he was traded.
Moses Malone was a professional basketball player who had a net worth of $5 million. Moses Malone played in the ABA and the NBA in a career spanning from 1974 to 1995. Regarded by many as one of the greatest NBA players of all time, he was named NBA MVP three times, led the NBA in rebounds a total of six times, and won the 1983 NBA championship. Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, his first year of eligibility. Unfortunately, Moses died on September 13, 2015, at the age of 60 after suffering from an apparent heart attack.
Moses Malone was born on March 23, 1955 in Petersburg, Virginia. He was primarily raised by his mother, as his father was kicked out of the home due to alcohol abuse when Malone was two years old. As an adolescent, he attended Petersburg High School, where he was a star basketball player with the Crimson Wave. In his final two years of high school, Malone helped his team to consecutive undefeated seasons and Virginia state championships. He was named National High School Player of the Year in 1974. Although Malone went on to sign a letter of intent to play collegiate basketball at the University of Maryland, he ultimately decided to turn professional instead.
Early Life and High School
Malone had his career breakthrough with the Houston Rockets. In his first season with the team, he set new NBA records with 437 rebounds in the regular season and 15 rebounds in the playoffs. Despite missing significant playing time in his second season with the Rockets, in 1977-78, Malone led the NBA with 380 rebounds and earned his first NBA All-Star selection. He ascended to new heights during the 1978-79 season, leading the NBA with a new record of 587 rebounds and posting a career-best .540 shooting percentage. Malone was named the NBA MVP for the season. He was less productive in the 1979-80 season, but managed to help the Rockets make it to the Conference Semifinals.
During his career, Moses earned a total of $13.9 million in salary. His highest annual salary came in 1990 season from the Atlanta Hawks.
In the 1974 ABA draft, Malone was chosen by the Utah Stars in the third round. This made him the first player in modern professional basketball history chosen straight out of high school. Malone proved his prowess right out of the gate, earning ABA All-Star and All-Rookie honors in his first professional season. His second season was far less productive, as a leg injury took him out of play completely before the Stars collapsed 16 games into the season. After that, Malone was sold to the Spirits of St. Louis, with which he concluded the 1975-76 season. He finished his first two professional seasons having averaged 17.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per game.
Ultimately, Moses Malone's financial journey is a testament to their success.
Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.