Nick Piccone
In all of this Jahlil Okafor mess, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the great thing the organization is doing tomorrow night when the Lakers come to town. The team will honor Moses Malone in a special tribute game, followed by a special announcement, which could mean his Sixers No. 2 jersey being retired. The Houston Rockets have already retired the number he wore for them, No. 24.
“Dr. J” Julius Erving will make a halftime appearance and make the announcement. Malone passed away in September in his sleep. Charles Barkley gave an awesome speech at his funeral. He will be missed.
Tickets for the game are still available here. And here. It’ll also be your final chance to see Kobe Bryant play a game in Philly, because yesterday he announced he’s retiring at the end of this season. So, really, there are at least two reasons for you to go.
From the team’s website:
Moses Malone was a Hall of Fame icon that had the game, stats, awards, and hardware to match. Moses will forever be known as the consummate teammate, the ‘Chairman of the Boards’ and an integral part of the Sixers’ family,” said Philadelphia 76ers CEO Scott O’Neil. “Surrounded by his family, friends, and 1982-83 teammate we will celebrate the life and honor the career of a man who inspired and challenged generations of ballplayers, delighted millions of fans, and shaped the future of the NBA and the game of basketball.
The Moses Malone Tribute Night is the first of three Sixers Tribute Nights this season honoring Sixers legends. This Sixers will honor Darryl Dawkins on Saturday, February 6 at 7:30 p.m. vs. Brooklyn Nets and famed statistician Harvey Pollack on Wednesday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Charlotte Hornets. Individual tickets for Moses Malone Tribute Night on Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 p.m. against the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as all single game tickets and ticket packages, are on sale now by phone at 215-339-7676, online at SIXERS.COM, and in person at the box office.
Fans may share their memories of the NBA Hall of Famer on a Memory Wall on the concourse, adorned with “Sixers Forever” banners. The Philadelphia 76ers’ 1982-83 Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy and a life-size cutout of Malone will be available on the concourse for fan pictures. The Sixers Phlight Squad will perform a tribute routine to the song “Planet Rock”, while the Sixers Dance Team will perform to “Get Down on It” – both 1982-83 Billboard hits. Sixers Dancers will wear apparel sporting Malone’s #2 on the back.”
Good work, Sixers.
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Here’s Malone’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech.