Moses Malone, a three-time NBA MVP and one of the greatest players in professional basketball history, has died at the age of 60.

The Philadelphia 76ers announced the passing of a player known as the 'Chairman of the Boards' on Sunday.

A statement read: "It is with a deep sense of sadness that the Sixers family mourns the sudden loss of Moses Malone.

"It is difficult to express what his contributions to this organization - both as a friend and player - have meant to us, the city of Philadelphia and his faithful fans.

"Moses holds a special place in our hearts and will forever be remembered as a genuine icon and pillar of the most storied era in the history of Philadelphia 76ers basketball.

"His generosity, towering personality and incomparable sense of humour will truly be missed. We will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers and as we are once again reminded of the preciousness of life."

Malone went straight to the ABA from high school in 1974 and starred in the start-up league before becoming a legend when the ABA and NBA merged. He became a monster on the boards in Houston, leading the league with 17.6 rebounds per game in 1979 as he won his first MVP award.

But his greatest achievement might have come in helping lead the 76ers to the 1983 NBA title during a season in which he won his second consecutive league MVP honour and third overall as the team went 12-1 in the playoffs.

The big man remained in the league for more than a decade after that, ending his career in 1994-95 with a brief run as a backup to David Robinson in San Antonio, aged 39.

For his career, Malone averaged 20.3 points and 12.3 rebounds in 1,455 professional games between the ABA and NBA. He is one of four players in NBA history to amass 25,000 points and 15,000 rebounds, along with Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Elvin Hayes, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Malone is the second iconic player of his era to die in recent weeks, after Darryl Dawkins passed away in late August at the age of 58.