Michael Malone is in mourning, since the current coach of the Nuggets has just learned the death from his father, Brendan Malone.
Former coach of the Raptors, for their first season in the NBA (1995/96), then of the Cavaliers, when he was interim coach during LeBron James’ rookie year (2004/05), he passed away age 81. He directed 100 games in the NBA (none in the playoffs), for a record of 29 wins and 71 losses.
Best known for his exploits as an assistant, Brendan Malone notably won two titles with Chuck Daly’s Pistons (1989, 1990). He also played in the 1999 Finals, as Jeff Van Gundy’s right-hand man with the Knicks, as well as the 2009 Finals, as the right-hand man of the other Van Gundy brother, Stan, with the Magic.
Also on the Pacers bench as an assistant, Michael Malone’s father had also briefly worked with his son in Sacramento in 2013, before resigning after a few months. Before turning to the NBA, he had trained in the NCAA, with Syracuse, Yale, Rhode Island and Fordham.
