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25 Greatest Players in ABA History

By Maxwell Ogden

SPRINGFIELD, MA - AUGUST 12: Artis Gilmore shakes hands with Hall of Fame Player Julius Erving during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA - AUGUST 12: Artis Gilmore shakes hands with Hall of Fame Player Julius Erving during the Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Symphony Hall on August 12, 2011 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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21. Moses Malone

Position: Forward/Center
Years Active: 1974-1976
Team(s): Utah Stars, Spirits of St. Louis
ABA Averages: 34.7 MPG, 17.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 5.2 ORPG, 1.1 APG, 1.2 BPG
Accolades: ABA All-Star, ABA All-Rookie First Team

Moses Malone won three MVP awards during Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career, and you hardly ever hear him mentioned in all-time discussion. Before he was dominating the NBA, however, Malone was making his name as a member of the ABA during the final two seasons of its existence.

Malone wasn’t nearly as great in the ABA as he was in the NBA, which is why he’s ranked so low, but he still had a Top 25 ABA career.

Malone would’ve won Rookie of the Year in 1975 had it not been for Marvin Barnes playing at such an extraordinary level. While Barnes may have received the accolades, Malone established his own stardom by averaging 18.8 points, 14.6 rebounds, 5.5 offensive boards, 1.5 blocks, and 1.0 steal on 57.1 percent shooting from the field.

His one-year stint with the Spirits of St. Louis didn’t go according to plan, but Malone still managed to establish himself as one of the better players in the ABA.

For perspective on what went wrong in St. Louis, Malone was sold to the team to help the Utah Stars, who folded early in the ABA’s final season, pay off their debts. He still had a productive campaign, but the circumstances surrounding his campaign were overwhelming in a negative capacity.

Malone is one of the 15 greatest players in basketball history, and he’s one of the best to ever grace the ABA, but he didn’t become the star he was until reaching the NBA.

Next: No. 20