Is Moses Malone the most underrated player ever in NBA history?

[coastalmarker99]

Here is the full list of what Moses achieved throughout his 21-year career
NBA champion (1983)
NBA Finals MVP (1983)
3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1979, 1982, 1983)
12× NBA All-Star (1978–1989)
ABA All-Star (1975)
4× All-NBA First Team (1979, 1982, 1983, 1985)
4× All-NBA Second Team (1980, 1981, 1984, 1987)
NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983)
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1979)
ABA All-Rookie Team (1975)
6× NBA rebounding leader (1979, 1981–1985)
NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
ABA All-Time Team
No. 2 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
No. 24 retired by Houston Rockets
Points 29,580 (20.6 ppg)
Rebounds 17,834 (12.2 rpg)
Blocks 1889 (1.3 bpg)

[Gohan]

Here is the full list of what Moses achieved throughout his 21-year career
NBA champion (1983)
NBA Finals MVP (1983)
3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1979, 1982, 1983)
12× NBA All-Star (1978–1989)
ABA All-Star (1975)
4× All-NBA First Team (1979, 1982, 1983, 1985)
4× All-NBA Second Team (1980, 1981, 1984, 1987)
NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983)
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1979)
ABA All-Rookie Team (1975)
6× NBA rebounding leader (1979, 1981–1985)
NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
ABA All-Time Team
No. 2 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
No. 24 retired by Houston Rockets
Points 29,580 (20.6 ppg)
Rebounds 17,834 (12.2 rpg)
Blocks 1889 (1.3 bpg)

I’d say that resume is fire

[ELITEpower23]

I've seen him around top 40.

Where would you put him OP?

[coastalmarker99]

I've seen him around top 40.

Where would you put him OP?

I would put him in the top 15 of all time



Considering everyone else with at least 3 MVPs is in the top ten of all time (Lebron, Magic, Wilt, Kareem, Jordan Bird etc.) I would say that Moses at the very least deserves to be ranked in the top 15 of all time. Especially when you consider the fact that he was the leader of what some consider to be the greatest team of all-time in the 1983 Sixers who went on an utter rampage throughout the playoffs on route to a title.

[coastalmarker99]

It should be noted that Moses used to kill Kareem when they matched up head to head in the playoffs as I don't think I have ever seen someone just physically bully Kareem on both sides of the ball the way Moses did to Kareem when they faced off against each other in the 1981 playoffs and 1983 finals.

[Psileas]

Here's an opinion (and a result) I find interesting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHF-9feyimw

Moses is underrated as to meaning "he's not talked about much", but so is the case with the majority of NBA greats. Very few greats are talked with any kind of consistency.
But overall, he's ranked pretty much in similar positions by most fans, so the question is, is he worthy of being ranked higher?

[ShawkFactory]

I feel like most people put him in the top 15 or so. So in that sense no.

But he doesn’t get talked about as much as pretty much everyone else in the top 15.

As an aside..I legit did not know that he won 3 MVPs.

[ELITEpower23]

I feel like most people put him in the top 15 or so. So in that sense no.

But he doesn’t get talked about as much as pretty much everyone else in the top 15.

As an aside..I legit did not know that he won 3 MVPs.

Great point that he isn't talked about as much as others in the top 20 but I would say most lists have him in the top 20-30 range safely. Real GM had him right at #20.

[ShawkFactory]

Great point that he isn't talked about as much as others in the top 20 but I would say most lists have him in the top 20-30 range safely. Real GM had him right at #20.
20 is way to low. I’d take Moses over someone like Dirk or Karl Malone all day every day.

I’m assuming both of those guys were higher.

[r0drig0lac]

yep, is a top 15 in my book

[warriorfan]

Like others said he doesn’t get discussed very much but we have to remember his best seasons were about 40 years ago. He’s been dead for over 5 years at this point. He definitely didn’t have a very flashy game either. It does make sense how he gets glossed over at times.

He was a truly dominant player however. He reminds me of Draymond Green with the way he would battle down low with a great motor. He out worked everyone. And he was much bigger than Draymond too. He was one of the greatest rebounders ever, the most dominant of his era, and scored on big volume and did it efficiently. What also considerably boosted his offensive contributions, he was probably the second greatest offensive rebounder of all time next to Dennis Rodman. Moses obviously had a much larger scoring responsibility than Dennis though. (Left Wilt out of this, he probably had just as many offensive rebounds as those two but I don’t think there is offensive rebounding data from that era)

The way I would describe him is if you took Prime Dwight Howard, then took away some athleticism, added grit toughness and heart. Worse defense but better scoring and offensive rebounding.

[Spain_]

I've seen him around top 40.

Where would you put him OP?

I've always thought he was top 10 all time personally.

[Spain_]

Like others said he doesn’t get discussed very much but we have to remember his best seasons were about 40 years ago. He’s been dead for over 5 years at this point. He definitely didn’t have a very flashy game either. It does make sense how he gets glossed over at times.

He was a truly dominant player however. He reminds me of Draymond Green with the way he would battle down low with a great motor. He out worked everyone. And he was much bigger than Draymond too. He was one of the greatest rebounders ever, the most dominant of his era, and scored on big volume and did it efficiently. What also considerably boosted his offensive contributions, he was probably the second greatest offensive rebounder of all time next to Dennis Rodman. Moses obviously had a much larger scoring responsibility than Dennis though. (Left Wilt out of this, he probably had just as many offensive rebounds as those two but I don’t think there is offensive rebounding data from that era)

The way I would describe him is if you took Prime Dwight Howard, then took away some athleticism, added grit toughness and heart. Worse defense but better scoring and offensive rebounding.

Speaking of guys that played forever ago Barry is the GOAT warrior not Curry.

[FKAri]

Yes he is. I dunno bout most but he's def up there.

[72-10]

I disagree. Of course Malone is great, and his numbers are outstanding, but he would often rebound his own missed shots, which isn't exactly the epitome of skill, especially when it's right near the rim.

Also, teammates claim that he tended to mumble on the court, hence the disparaged nickname "Mumbles Malone", and communication is sometimes a key part of the game.

[BigShotBob]

I disagree. Of course Malone is great, and his numbers are outstanding, but he would often rebound his own missed shots, which isn't exactly the epitome of skill, especially when it's right near the rim.

Also, teammates claim that he tended to mumble on the court, hence the disparaged nickname "Mumbles Malone", and communication is sometimes a key part of the game.

:roll:

Jokes aside he's comfortably top 20 for me and I've seen him play.

[TAZORAC]

no Karl MALONE is

[L.Kizzle]

He goes along side Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor as guys who for some reason have slid down the GOAT list.
And strangley guys like Reggie Miller and Kevin McHale have moved upm

[Spain_]

He goes along side Bob Pettit, Elgin Baylor as guys who for some reason have slid down the GOAT list.
And strangley guys like Reggie Miller and Kevin McHale have moved upm

Pettit should be higher up on those lists.
He did it against Wilt and Russell too, so it's not a Mikan situation.
Very influential and innovative player too, changed the position.

All of the above also apply to Baylor (RIP)

[Thenameless]

Moses Malone is definitely underrated. A forgotten superstar.

[kenneth_griffin]

most underrated player ever is easily Isiah Thomas

he should be a 3 time champion, 2 time finals mvp if not for a phantom bail out call. his performance on one leg to close out the Lakers should have gone down as possibly the greatest playoff moment ever but because he played on a team.from.detroit the league rigged it for the Lakers and called that bullsh*t foul on laimbeer

he should be mentioned in the same breath as magic and bird from the 80s but nobody brings him up. he's a jealous f*ggot when it comes to Jordan conversations but he's a top 20 legend all time and should be top 15

[72-10]

most underrated player ever is easily Isiah Thomas

he should be a 3 time champion, 2 time finals mvp if not for a phantom bail out call. his performance on one leg to close out the Lakers should have gone down as possibly the greatest playoff moment ever but because he played on a team.from.detroit the league rigged it for the Lakers and called that bullsh*t foul on laimbeer

he should be mentioned in the same breath as magic and bird from the 80s but nobody brings him up. he's a jealous f*ggot when it comes to Jordan conversations but he's a top 20 legend all time and should be top 15

That's a good point, he's about as underrated 'round these parts as Larry Bird, 2 of the 7 most skilled players to play basketball.

[kawhileonard2]

Top 15 and Ahead of Dr J

[ClipperRevival]

most underrated player ever is easily Isiah Thomas

he should be a 3 time champion, 2 time finals mvp if not for a phantom bail out call. his performance on one leg to close out the Lakers should have gone down as possibly the greatest playoff moment ever but because he played on a team.from.detroit the league rigged it for the Lakers and called that bullsh*t foul on laimbeer

he should be mentioned in the same breath as magic and bird from the 80s but nobody brings him up. he's a jealous f*ggot when it comes to Jordan conversations but he's a top 20 legend all time and should be top 15

Co-sign.

If you look at his bball reference page, nothing sticks out. CP3 looks like 2X the player. But Isiah was a killer. Sacrificed stats to win. He beat Magic, Bird and MJ.

[dankok8]

He is a top 20 player at worst. His overall accomplishments and just total dominance from 1979-1983 is nothing to scoff at.

[97 bulls]

I disagree. Of course Malone is great, and his numbers are outstanding, but he would often rebound his own missed shots, which isn't exactly the epitome of skill, especially when it's right near the rim.

Also, teammates claim that he tended to mumble on the court, hence the disparaged nickname "Mumbles Malone", and communication is sometimes a key part of the game.

Great post. I was about to post the same comments.

[Lebron23]

:roll:

Jokes aside he's comfortably top 20 for me and I've seen him play.

You gotta be joking. Do they even televise NBA games in the Philippines in the 1980's??

[tanibanana]

Malone, Erving and Gervin is the top-3 most underrated player.
If ABA’s achievement (is included accordingly, ad it should be), all of them are top-25 players.

[jalbert009]

Personally he's in my top 15-20 range all time list.

Here's my list. I have players in tiers and are Interchangeable

Tier 1 - Mount Rushmore
1.Michael Jordan
2. Lebron James
3. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
4. Bill Russell

Tier 2 - Top 10
5. Wilt Chamberlain
6. Magic Johnson
7. Larry Bird
8. Tim Duncan
9. Shaquile Oneal
10. Kobe Bryant

Tier 3 - Top 14
11. Julius Erving
12. Kevin Durant
13. Hakeem Olajuwon
14. Stephen Curry

Tier 4 - Top 19
15. Kevin Garnett
16. David Robinson
17. Oscar Robertson
18. Dirk Nowitzki
19. Moses Malone

[RogueBorg]

Here is the full list of what Moses achieved throughout his 21-year career
NBA champion (1983)
NBA Finals MVP (1983)
3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1979, 1982, 1983)
12× NBA All-Star (1978–1989)
ABA All-Star (1975)
4× All-NBA First Team (1979, 1982, 1983, 1985)
4× All-NBA Second Team (1980, 1981, 1984, 1987)
NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983)
NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1979)
ABA All-Rookie Team (1975)
6× NBA rebounding leader (1979, 1981–1985)
NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
ABA All-Time Team
No. 2 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
No. 24 retired by Houston Rockets
Points 29,580 (20.6 ppg)
Rebounds 17,834 (12.2 rpg)
Blocks 1889 (1.3 bpg)

My favorite player of all-time. He is mostly forgotten these days. The guy was an absolute beast. Dominated KAJ in the 1983 NBA Finals.

[72-10]

The communication barrier is a reason I deduct points for other statistically outstanding players like Hakeem Olajuwon and Pau Gasol, and Pau's play on the court with the Bulls was some of his best, because they are somewhat overrated by their stats.

[72-10]

My favorite player of all-time. He is mostly forgotten these days. The guy was an absolute beast. Dominated KAJ in the 1983 NBA Finals.

The "old and washed up" Kareem dominated on both sides of the ball for the '83 playoff run against younger players in their primes, he set the playoff series blocked shots record in the first round, and yet Moses dominated Kareem in the Finals the whole way through, in fact he nearly notched some 20-20s to cap it off, he was even making some passes, both teams were firing on all cylinders all season until the Lakers machine broke down in the Finals against the better team, certainly the highlight and cornerstone of Moses' illustrious career. The Sixers made short work of a tall order Lakers squad, there's not too many teams that would beat the '83 Sixers.

[RogueBorg]

Personally he's in my top 15-20 range all time list.

Here's my list. I have players in tiers and are Interchangeable

Tier 1 - Mount Rushmore
1.Michael Jordan
2. Lebron James
3. Kareem Abdul Jabbar
4. Bill Russell

Tier 2 - Top 10
5. Wilt Chamberlain
6. Magic Johnson
7. Larry Bird
8. Tim Duncan
9. Shaquile Oneal
10. Kobe Bryant

Tier 3 - Top 14
11. Julius Erving
12. Kevin Durant
13. Hakeem Olajuwon
14. Stephen Curry

Tier 4 - Top 19
15. Kevin Garnett
16. David Robinson
17. Oscar Robertson
18. Dirk Nowitzki
19. Moses Malone

Moses was better than Garnett and David Robinson probably Dr. J too.

[bizil]

Nah Big Mo aint underrated. He was a top five player in the world for a long time. A NBA Finals MVP, 3 time MVP, and Champ. And helped Dr. J get over the hump in one of the top five perimeter-center combos of all time. The only combos I would take FOR SURE over them (peak-prime wise) for perimeter-center combos are Kobe-Shaq and Magic-Kareem. When u are on the level of dominance that Moses was, u CAN'T be underrated quite frankly. Among superstar level players, guys like Nique, McAdoo, English, Dantley, King, etc. I would consider underrated. For very good, how about Rod Strickland or Byron Scott NEVER making an All Star Game??

[Kblaze8855]

5 minutes of Moses domination without a single play I’d call a highlight:


https://youtu.be/0dyw-dpenlA



If you have 43/25 and win….does it matter how pretty it is?

Unfortunately history says yes.

[coastalmarker99]

5 minutes of Moses domination without a single play I’d call a highlight:


https://youtu.be/0dyw-dpenlA



If you have 43/25 and win….does it matter how pretty it is?

Unfortunately history says yes.

Just pure desire and hustle.



God, I loved watching Moses play.

[iamgine]

Don't think he's underrated. After all he did win 3 MVPs.

Plus he should've won more championship. Or at least contend for more. Instead, after a Durant like move to Philly where he won one, he just declined the next season at the age of 28.

[tanibanana]

Moses Malone, George Gervin and Julius Erving are my top-3 most underrated player of all time. Frazier and Gilmore would complete my top-5.

[jalbert009]

That Tier 4 Is interchangeable 15 - 19. But I think many people over look Dr J's ABA resume. He has 2 ABA Rings and Finals MVP equivalents and 3 MVPs. NBA / ABA combined he's a x3 Champion and x4 MVP. That's more like top 10 all time hardware however ABA accomplishments are viewed less hence I kept him out of my top 10.

[RogueBorg]

Just pure desire and hustle.



God, I loved watching Moses play.

So did I. Absolute beast down low.