Charles Barkley remembers Moses Malone: "Every time I saw him, I called him Dad"

The death of Hall of Famer and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Moses Malone on Sunday left touching memories from fellow Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who spent the first two seasons of his professional career as Malone's teammate on the Philadelphia 76ers, and who has long credited Malone's guidance and veteran leadership as one of the primary factors in his development into one of the greatest players in NBA history.

"The man I called 'Dad' passed today. Words can't explain my sadness. I will never know why a Hall of Famer took a fat, lazy kid from Auburn and treated him like a son and got him in shape and made him a player. Every time I saw him I called him Dad. I hope he knew how much I appreciated and loved him."said Barkley.

The Virginia medical examiner's office says Hall of Fame basketball player Moses Malone died of natural causes. Malone was found dead in a Norfolk hotel Sunday morning. He was 60.

Last Monday, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said Malone's cause of death was listed as hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.