Michael Malone is an American coaching specialist, currently in the role of head coach serving the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. He was the head coach for the Sacramento Kings as well as serving as a coaching assistant for different teams, including the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets, and Golden State Warriors.
Early Life
Michael Malone was born on 15th September 1971 in Astoria, a Queens, New York City neighborhood. His father is Brendan Malone, a former NBA head coach. Upon graduating from Seton Hall Preparatory School, Malone attended Worcester Academy for the 1988-89 school year before obtaining his degree in history 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 and started 39 of them. Throughout his four seasons with the team, Malone accumulated 370 points, 279 assists, and 79 steals, averaging 18.5 minutes per game.
Michael Malone Coaching Career
College (1994–2001)
During his time at Loyola, Malone worked as an assistant coach for high school basketball at Friends School of Baltimore. Once he graduated from Loyola, he served as an assistant coach for Golden Grizzlies men’s basketball under the guidance of coach Greg Kampe at Oakland University.
During his college days, he desired to join the police force and he was about to start training to get in the Michigan State Police. However, after getting a job offer from Pete Gillen for the post of assistant coach at Providence College, he decided to accept it.
Consequently, he became an assistant coach for Providence Friars men’s basketball from 1995 to 1998. In the 1998-99 season, Malone held the position of director of men’s basketball administration at the University of Virginia.
NBA (2001–2011)
Starting in 2001, Malone worked with the NY Knicks as a coaching associate, later becoming their assistant coach in 2003. He then joined the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant coach from 2005-2010, helping them reach the NBA Finals in 2007 and achieve a franchise record of 66-16 during the 2008-09 season. After that, he moved to New Orleans Hornets in 2010-11, improving their defense and leading them to 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 during the 2012-13 season, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Malone was reportedly the highest-paid NBA assistant coach and named best assistant coach by NBA general managers in 2012. Players like Draymond Green and Stephen Curry credit him as a significant factor behind the team’s success.
Sacramento Kings (2013–2014)
In 2013, Vivek Ranadive, the majority owner of the Sacramento Kings, appointed Malone as their new head coach. As a result, Malone and his father made NBA history as the second father-son duo to lead an NBA team, following Bill Musselman and Eric Musselman. However, after beginning the 2014-15 season with a record of 11-13, Malone was dismissed by the Kings on December 15, 2014.
Denver Nuggets (2015–present)
He was appointed the Denver Nuggets head coach on June 15, 2015. In the 2018-19 season, Malone led the team to a record of 54-28, securing the second seed in the Western Conference after the Golden State Warriors. This was their first playoff berth in six seasons, and they defeated San Antonio Spurs in seven games.
However, Portland Trail Blazers eliminated them in seven games in the Semi-finals. The Nuggets announced that they had extended Malone’s contract on December 24, 2019. The 2020 NBA Bubble playoffs saw the emergence of a game-changing team, as they made history by being the first to overcome multiple 3–1 deficits in a single postseason.
They defeated Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers in seven games each after trailing 3–1 in each series. Despite this remarkable feat, they were eventually eliminated by Los Angeles Lakers in five games during the Western Conference Finals. On March 23, 2022, Malone and the Nuggets agreed on a multi-year contract extension.
Michael Malone Biography |
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|---|---|
| Real Name | Michael Malone |
| Birth Date | 15 September 1971 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 51 Years |
| Birth Place | Astoria, New York, United States |
| Profession | Basketball Coach |
| College | Loyola University Maryland |
| Qualification | Graduate |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 6’ 2” – in Centimeters – 188 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 92 kg – in Pounds – 202 lbs |
| Hair Color | Brown |
| Eye Color | Brown |
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Family |
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| Father | Brendan Malone |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | Married |
| Who is his wife? | Jocelyn Malone |
| Children | Two (Caitlin & Bridget) |
Personal Life
In 1998, Michael Malone made the decision to get married to Jocelyn, and the couple has remained happily married ever since. They are proud parents to two daughters named Caitlin and Bridget. Reports indicate that Jocelyn used to work as a school teacher in the past and remains a devoted supporter of her husband.
Michael Malone Net Worth
With a flourishing coaching career and a prominent standing in the basketball world, Mike Malone’s estimated net worth is approximately $8 million. His estimated salary is around $2 million annually and recently Denver Nuggets and Mike both agreed to extend his contract further.
