NBA: Ranking every MVP winner in league history

SANTA MONICA, CA - JUNE 25: James Harden, winner of the 2017-2018 MVP award, poses with his mom Monja Willis in the backstage photo room during the 2018 NBA Awards at Barker Hangar on June 25, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) /

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Moses Malone (Photo by Rick Stewart/Allsport/Getty Images) /

NBA: Ranking every MVP winner in league history: 19. Moses Malone

Stats:

20.3 points
10.3 rebounds
49.7% from the field

Accomplishments:

13 time All-Star
8 time All-NBA
6 time rebounding champ
3 time MVP
1 time NBA champ

For a long period of time, Moses Malone was about as good as you could get in the NBA. While he wasn’t a guard who could dominate the ball and get where ever he wanted on the court, once the ball was dumped to him in the low post, defenders were at his mercy.

For 11 straight years, Malone averaged at least 20 points and 10 plus rebounds. His consistently great play ultimately landed him several notable awards. He was a three-time MVP winner, a 13-time All-Star, he was selected to eight All-NBA teams and he led the league incredibly six times in rebounds. Speaking of rebounding, practically no one did it better. His 16,212 boards still rank 5th all-time although he hasn’t stepped onto an NBA court in several decades. If one of Malone’s teammates missed a shot, it didn’t matter. With his 6,731 offensive rebounds, which rank number one all-time, Malone made sure that his squad had plenty of second-chance opportunities.

If Malone were simply able to lead his ball club to more than one NBA title, there is no doubt that he would be held in higher regard in NBA circles.