Jeff Ruland, the Other Major Player in the Moses Malone Trade, Retires

Philadelphia center Jeff Ruland, one of the two key players in one of the 76ers’ most-controversial trades, has retired from basketball because of a chronic knee injury, the club announced Friday.

“We have concluded that Jeff can no longer pass physical requirements to play professional basketball,” said John Nash, the 76ers’ general manager.

Nash said Ruland, who reinjured his knee in preseason training and eventually underwent arthroscopic surgery, failed to pass the club’s physical examination. Nash said that, after meeting with club officials, Ruland concluded that he had no alternative but to retire.

Ruland was traded to the 76ers with Cliff Robinson by the Washington Bullets on June 16, 1986, for Moses Malone, Terry Catledge and first-round draft choices in 1986 and 1988.

The deal generally was viewed as Malone, one of the NBA’s best scorers and rebounders and a franchise-type player, for Ruland. In his two previous seasons, Ruland played in only 67 games.

Ruland was the victim of foot, shoulder and knee injuries. He played in just five games this season after reinjuring his knee.