Michael Malone is an American coaching specialist who currently serves as the head coach for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. He was the head coach of the Sacramento Kings and served as an assistant coach for various teams including the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets, and Golden State Warriors.
Early life
Michael Malone was born on September 15, 1971, in Astoria, a borough of Queens, New York City. His father is Brendan Malone, a former NBA head coach. After graduating from Seton Hall Preparatory School, Malone attended Worcester Academy during the 1988-89 school year before earning a history degree from Loyola University Maryland in 1994.
As a point guard for the Loyola Greyhounds men’s basketball team from 1989 to 1993, he played in 107 games, starting 39 of them. During his four seasons with the team, Malone had 370 points, 279 assists, and 79 steals, averaging 18.5 minutes per game.
Michael Malone coaching career
College (1994–2001)
While at Loyola, Malone served as an assistant high school basketball coach at the Friends School of Baltimore. After graduating from Loyola, he served as an assistant coach for the Golden Grizzlies men’s basketball under the direction of coach Greg Kampe at Oakland University.
While he was in college, he wanted to be a police officer and was just beginning his Michigan State Police training course. However, after receiving a job offer from Pete Gillen to be an assistant coach at Providence College, he decided to accept it.
As a result, he became the Providence Friars men’s basketball assistant coach from 1995 to 1998. During the 1998-99 season, Malone held the position of director of men’s basketball administration at the University of Virginia.
NBA (2001-2011)
From 2001, Malone worked as an assistant coach with the NY Knicks and became their assistant coach in 2003. He then joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach from 2005 to 2010, helping them reach the 2007 NBA Finals and earn a franchise-record 66-16 in the 2008-09 season. He then moved to the New Orleans Hornets in 2010/11, where he improved their defense and led them to the playoffs.
Golden State Warriors (2011–2013)
Malone was hired as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors in 2011. The team’s performance improved dramatically in the 2012–13 season, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Malone was reportedly the highest-paid assistant coach in the NBA and was named the NBA’s best assistant coach in 2012. Players like Draymond Green and Stephen Curry see him as a key factor in the team’s success.
Sacramento Kings (2013–2014)
In 2013, Vivek Ranadive, the Sacramento Kings majority owner, named Malone as their new head coach. As a result, Malone and his father made NBA history when they became the second father-son duo to manage an NBA team, after Bill Musselman and Eric Musselman. However, after starting the 2014-15 season with an 11-13 record, Malone was released by the Kings on December 15, 2014.
Denver Nuggets (2015–present)
On June 15, 2015, he was named the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. During the 2018-19 season, Malone led the team to a record of 54-28, securing second place in the Western Conference behind the Golden State Warriors. This was their first playoff berth in six seasons and they defeated the San Antonio Spurs in seven games.
However, the Portland Trail Blazers eliminated them in seven games in the semifinals. The Nuggets announced on December 24, 2019, that they had renewed Malone’s contract. The 2020 NBA Bubble Playoffs created a groundbreaking team that made history by being the first to overcome multiple 3-1 deficits in a single postseason.
They defeated the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in seven games each after trailing 3-1 in each series. Despite this remarkable performance, they were eventually eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in five Western Conference Finals games. On March 23, 2022, Malone and the Nuggets agreed to a multi-year contract extension.
Michael Malone Biography | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Michael Malone |
| birth date | September 15, 1971 |
| Age | 53 years |
| Place of birth | Astoria, New York, United States |
| Profession | basketball coach |
| University | Loyola University Maryland |
| qualification | graduate |
Physical Statistics | |
| Height | in feet inches – 6 feet 2 inches – in centimeters – 188 cm |
| Weight | in kilograms – 92kg – in pounds – 202 pounds |
| Hair color | Brown |
| eye color | Brown |
Michael Malone Family | |
| Father | Brendan Malone |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
relationship status | |
| Marital status | Married |
| Who is Michael Malone’s wife? | Jocelyn Malone |
| Children | Two (Caitlin & Bridget) |
Personal life
In 1998, Michael Malone made the decision to marry Jocelyn and the couple have been happily married ever since. They are the proud parents of two daughters named Caitlin and Bridget. Jocelyn reportedly worked as a school teacher in the past and remains a staunch supporter of her husband.
Michael Malone net worth
With a thriving coaching career and a stellar reputation in the basketball world, Mike Malone’s estimated net worth is approximately $8 million. His estimated salary is around $2 million a year and recently the Denver Nuggets and Mike have agreed to further extend his contract.