Three-time NBA MVP Moses Malone dead at 60

January 1, 1989 - Moses Malone #2 of the Atlanta Hawks  (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/NBAE/Getty Images)

Credit: Jonathan Daniel

Credit: Jonathan Daniel

January 1, 1989 - Moses Malone #2 of the Atlanta Hawks  (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/NBAE/Getty Images)

Malone, named one of the NBA's 50 greatest players, was the Finals MVP as he led the Philadelphia 76ers to the 1983 championship.

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According to the Associated PressThe 76ers issued a statement that Malone had died, but did not immediately provide a cause of death.

The 6-foot-10 center, nicknamed the "Chairman of the Boards," averaged a double-double while playing for eight teams over 20 NBA seasons and led the league in rebounding six times. The 12-time All-Star averaged 20.6 points per game and 12.2 rebounds over his career.

His 16,212 rebounds still rank fifth on the NBA's all-time list, while his 27,409 career points rank eighth.

Malone was the first player to go pro right out of high school, signing with the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1974. He played the following season for the Spirits of St. Louis before moving to the Buffalo Braves after the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.

He also played for the Houston Rockets, 76ers (twice), Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks and the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he finished his career during the 1994-95 season.

His No. 24 was retired by the Rockets, with whom he won the MVP in 1979 and 1982. He won his third MVP with the 76ers in 1983.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.