Basketball Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy was acquitted Monday of charges that he sexually abused five of his 10 daughters more than a decade ago.

Murphy, 56, pleaded not guilty to the charges, which arose out of a family conflict over money.

The retired Houston Rockets star was indicted July 1 on six counts, three of aggravated sexual assault and three of indecency with a child.

Calvin Murphy reacts Monday to being acquitted. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

"He's a cheat and he's a child molester," prosecutor Paula Storts told a Houston courtroom.

Murphy faced five years-to-life in prison for the aggravated violations and upwards of 2-20 years for the indecency offences.

But the jury deliberated just two hours before returning its verdict and ending a month-long trial in which Murphy testified.

"To hear that people believed in me and found me innocent of those charges, my heart just swelled up and started beating very fastly in my body," Murphy said. "I cannot say enough for what they have done to give me my life back."

Murphy's lawyers claimed that three daughters were trying to claim more than $50,000 US in death benefits left in a teacher's retirement account belonging to their late mother, Phyllis Davidson, who named Murphy as the beneficiary.

Murphy had four children during his 20-year relationship with Davidson, who was killed in an auto accident eight years ago.

All told, he has fathered 14 children with nine women.

"I want to start the healing process," Murphy said. "Let's not forget that my family is in turmoil right now."

Murphy averaged 17.9 points on 48.2 per cent shooting as well as 4.4 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 1,022 NBA games, all for the Rockets.

A five-foot, nine-inch guard, he was drafted in the second round – 18th overall – in 1970 by the San Diego Rockets, who relocated to Houston a year later.

Murphy retired after 13 NBA seasons, and had his No. 23 raised to the rafters by the Rockets in 1984 before entering the Hall of Fame in 1993.

Shortly after charges were filed, Houston granted Murphy a paid, indefinite leave of absence from his broadcasting duties for the 2004-05 NBA season.

Now acquitted, speculation is Murphy might ask to return to work in the near future.

with files from Sports Network