The biggest drawback to Malone playing when he did was the lack of attention. He peaked just before league’s popularity took off in 1984. The Rockets’ classic seven-game Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs in 1981, in which Malone averaged 28 points, was televised partially on tape delay, Carroll recalled, like much of the 1981 NBA playoffs, including four NBA Finals games.
Malone has as many as MVP awards (three) as Magic and Bird. He has more than Shaq and Kobe (one each) combined. He ranks among the NBA’s all-time top 10 in both points and rebounds. He navigated his way through the pros without going to college first … and without anyone to provide lessons on how to do it.
I’m not sure whether having SportsCenter or YouTube throughout Malone’s career would have helped. His game wasn’t tailored for Vine-able moments. He wore opponents down by rebounding again and again and again. He drew fouls (he was one of only four players to attempt more than 10,000 free throws in his career), and if there was a signature Malone image it was him at the free throw line, his goggles slid up his head, sweat dripping down his face.
Malone had over 4,000 more rebounds than Dennis Rodman but couldn’t match the popularity generated by Rodman’s colorful hairdos and wild persona. If it feels like Dawkins’ loss was felt just as deeply as Malone’s even though their careers weren’t comparable, it’s because Dawkins had the backboard-destroying dunks and created a flamboyant character that resonated as strongly as any of Malone’s statistical accomplishments.
Malone’s unremitting consistency didn’t make lasting memories on the sports landscape. But it formed eternal links for those who knew him, such as Dawson: “He never changed.”
And if Malone gets left out of the greatest-ever discussions, that might be more a function of who’s having the conversation.
“He never got left out of MY discussion,” Cheeks said. “Anybody, when they talked to me, about the game, Moses’ name inevitably comes up.”
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