In 1979, the year in which, had he gone to college, he would have been a rookie pro, center Moses Malone of the Houston Rockets was named the NBA's Most Valuable Player. The vote by his fellow players was eloquent testimony that, after traveling a long, twisting road, the 6' 10" Moses had arrived in the promised land.

Malone had been an awesome player in high school at Petersburg, Va., stamped with can't-miss credentials. With Moses leading the way, Petersburg High won 50 consecutive games and two state championships. College recruiters beat a constant path to his door. Finally, the frenzy ended with the disclosure on June 20, 1974 that Malone would attend the University of Maryland.

Meanwhile, the Utah Stars of the old American Basketball Association picked Malone in the third round of the ABA draft and entered the signing derby with a unique enticement. Instead of a college education, the Stars offered cold cash. The contract terms soared to more than $1 million and the pressure became too much for the 19-year-old to resist. So, in August, 1974, just two months after he agreed to attend Maryland, Malone decided to turn pro with Utah.

He became one of the few players to jump directly from high school to the pros, and he flourished. He averaged 18.8 points and 14.6 rebounds per game in his rookie year. When the Utah club folded, Malone moved to the Spirits of St. Louis. But the ABA was dying and in the dispersal draft, Malone was claimed by Portland in 1976. Then, in one whirlwind week he was traded by Portland to Buffalo—and swapped again, this time to Houston. The Rockets became his fifth pro team in two years, but he stayed.

In his first season with the Rockets, Malone led the NBA with 437 offensive rebounds and was third in the league overall, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. He was second in rebounding in 1977-78, even though he missed 23 games because of a fractured toe. Then came 1978-79. He led the league with 17.6 rebounds per game, breaking his own offensive rebound record by gathering in 587. His 1,444 total rebounds were 418 more than any other player.

MOSES MALONE Born March 25, 1955, Petersburg, Va.

AWARDS AND RECORDS
NBA MVP, 1978-79

Photo: Moses on the mount