NBA: The 30 best trios in league history

Best trios in NBA history: 20. Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, and Moses Malone

• Erving: 20.4 ppg, 6 rpg, 50.0 fg%
• Malone: 23.9 ppg, 13.4 rpg
• Cheeks: 13.4 ppg, 7.2 apg
• Finals record: 1-0
• Time together: 1983-1987

Three Hall of Famers will most likely equal an NBA title but the success of Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, and Moses Malone – could have been more profound if they had gotten together a bit sooner.

During his ABA days and earlier years in the NBA, there was no one better than Julius Erving. He would seemingly drop in from the sky and score 30 points a night. The prolific numbers did very little to help the Philadelphia 76ers win though. With his better days behind him, the 76ers were able to bring in Malone to take the scoring load off his shoulders. Erving was still good but not exactly great anymore. He averaged just a shade over 20 points a game.

Malone though, was a walking double-double, as he consistently led the league in rebounds while dropping about 25 points a night. Cheeks played his role nicely, as he gave them a third and dependable scorer, averaging 13.4 points during those four seasons. Both Malone and Erving made the All-Star squad every year they were together, while Cheeks made two appearances.

They won it all in their first season and won at least 52 games a year. Had Erving been closer to his prime, there’s no telling how many titles this group would’ve won collectively.