The Denver Nuggets made the decision to fire Michael Malone before last season ended. With just three games left in the regular season, Denver decided to fire him. Malone won a championship with the organization just two seasons prior.
Since then, Malone has been working for ESPN, appearing on NBA Today as well as calling games. He has stayed around professional basketball and was expected to get interviews for NBA jobs once this season ended. Malone is widely respected as a good coach.
Now, Malone has decided to zag and take one of the biggest jobs in college basketball.
GettyDenver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacts. (Photo by Tyler McFarland/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
Former Nuggets Coach Michael Malone Hired to be the Next North Carolina Head Coach
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Malone has been hired as the next head coach at North Carolina. The Tar Heels parted ways with Hubert Davis after losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to VCU. Since then, they have been searching for a new guy to bring in.
Malone hasn’t coached in college since 2001 when he was an assistant for Manhattan. He’s never been the head coach of a college basketball program.With NIL a massive part of college basketball, and UNC as one of the programs spending the most, perhaps this will be a good fit.
This is certainly a massive turn in Malone’s career, but his track record is impressive. He coached the Nuggets to the title in 2023 and has won over 500 games in the NBA. He certainly understands what it takes to be successful in the NBA, and that is what players will flock to.
Malone will have to learn the world of recruiting, which is not something he’s ever had to do before. Yet, North Carolina is the best possible place to get help when it comes to that.
GettyDenver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone yells. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Denver Has Had Mixed Results Without Michael Malone
Since firing Malone and hiring David Adelman, the results have been mixed in Denver. The Nuggets currently sit fourth in the Western Conference standings. They have the best offense in the league. When they are fully healthy, they are one of the scariest teams in the league.
Nikola Jokic is playing at a first-team All-NBA level. Adelman’s first full season as the head coach of the team won’t be truly evaluated until after this postseason is finished. Denver has the 10th-worst defense in the NBA, so that is one big issue he hasn’t been able to fix.
Malone has proven that he is a great NBA head coach. However, coaching college kids is different than coaching grown men in the league. This was certainly a turn that very few people in college basketball and the NBA saw coming.
If Malone does succeed at North Carolina, there is a chance he decides to head back to the NBA. He could also become just the second coach in history to win an NBA title and a national championship, joining Larry Brown. He will be pursuing that history starting next year.
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