Editing Moses Malone (section)

== Arrival in Philadelphia ==

Moses Eugene Malone was born on March 23, 1955, in Petersburg, Virginia, becoming one of the first players to jump directly from high school to professional basketball when he joined the ABA in 1974. His success in both the ABA and NBA before arriving in Philadelphia had established him as one of the game's premier centers, his rebounding—he led the league in that category six times—representing dominance that few players have matched. The 76ers' acquisition of Malone as a free agent addressed the deficiency that had prevented previous championship runs.<ref name="erving">{{cite book |last=Erving |first=Julius |title=Dr. J: The Autobiography |year=2013 |publisher=Harper |location=New York}}</ref>

The 76ers' championship core—Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones—had reached the Finals in 1982 only to lose to the Lakers. The addition of Malone provided the interior presence and rebounding that previous rosters had lacked, his ability to dominate opposing centers while creating second-chance opportunities transforming the team's championship ceiling. The trade that brought him to Philadelphia was widely recognized as franchise-altering before he played a single game.<ref name="pluto"/>

His impact was immediate and overwhelming. The 1982-83 regular season produced the league's best record, while the playoffs validated expectations that his addition had created. The dominance Malone had predicted—sweeps throughout the playoffs, with only the Milwaukee Bucks managing a single victory—demonstrated that his confidence matched his abilities. The championship represented fulfillment for both Malone, who had reached Finals previously without winning, and the 76ers' core, whose near-misses had generated questions about their championship capacity.<ref name="erving"/>