NBA '골밑의 지배자' 모지스 멀론, 60세로 사망

미국프로농구(NBA) 명예의 전당 회원인 모지스 멀론(미국)이 13일(이하 현지시간) 세상을 떠났다.

AP통신 등 외신들은 멀론이 이날 미국 버지니아주 노포크의 한 호텔에서 잠을 자다 60세의 나이로 숨을 거뒀다고 보도했다.

(Yonhap)

멀론은 숨진 당일 골프행사에 참석한 것으로 알려졌다.

신장 2m의 멀론은 빼어난 리바운드 실력으로 '골밑의 지배자'라는 별명을 얻었 다.

1975-1976 시즌 NBA에 데뷔한 멀론은 20년 동안 코트를 누비며 경기당 평균 20.

6점, 12.2개의 리바운드를 기록했다.

1983년에는 필라델피아 세븐티식서스를 챔피언 결정전 우승으로 이끌었고 통산 12차례 올스타로 뽑혔다.

1994-1995 시즌 애틀랜타 호크스에서 은퇴한 멀론은 2001년 명예의 전당 회원이 됐다. (연합)

NBA great Moses Malone dies at 60

Moses Malone, a three-time NBA MVP and one of basketball’s most ferocious rebounders, died Sunday. He was 60.

Det. Jeffrey Scott of the Norfolk, Virginia Police Department confirmed that Malone died in a Norfolk hotel room. He said there was no indication of foul play. Malone’s body was discovered when he failed to report to a celebrity golf tournament in which he was scheduled to play.

Malone was part of the 76ers’ 1983 NBA championship team, and the club said he will “forever be remembered as a genuine icon and pillar of the most storied era in the history of Philadelphia 76ers basketball.”

A 6-foot-10 center who made the leap right from high school to the pros, Malone is the NBA’s career leader in offensive rebounds and led the league in rebounds per game for five straight seasons from 1980-85.

Malone was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 and attended the induction ceremonies for the year’s class in Springfield, Massachusetts this weekend before returning to his native Virginia.

Drafted by the Utah Stars of the ABA in 1974, Malone went on to play for eight NBA clubs and was the league’s MVP in 1979 and 1982 while playing for the Houston Rockets.

“Everyone in the organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Moses Malone,” Rockets owners Leslie Alexander said. “Moses was a true gentleman and one of the great Rockets _ and greatest NBA players _ of all time. He will be forever missed. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.”

Malone joined the 76ers the following season and added his third MVP award while leading the 76ers to that championship after making his famed “Fo’, Fo’, Fo’,” prediction that the Sixers would win their playoff series in four-game sweeps.

“No one person has ever conveyed more with so few words _ including three of the most iconic in this city’s history,” 76ers CEO Scott O’Neil said. “His generosity, towering personality and incomparable sense of humor will truly be missed.”(AP)