Mike Malone

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Malone's path to Denver began with a diverse background, including playing point guard at Loyola University Maryland from 1989 to 1993. After graduating in 1994, he transitioned into coaching, starting as an assistant at Friends School of Baltimore and Oakland University before joining the Providence College staff under Pete Gillen from 1995 to 1998. His NBA journey started in 2001 with the New York Knicks, where he worked his way up from a coaching associate to an assistant coach by 2003. He later spent five seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers (2005–2010), helping the team reach the 2007 Finals and achieve a franchise-record 66 wins in 2008–09. After stints with the New Orleans Hornets and Golden State Warriors—where he was named the best assistant coach by NBA general managers in 2012—he became the second father-son duo to head coach an NBA team when hired by the Sacramento Kings in June 2013.

In Their Own Story

On June 15, 2015, Malone was named the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. His tenure saw immediate growth, leading the team to a second-seed finish in the Western Conference in 2018–19 with a 54–28 record. A defining moment occurred during the 2020 playoffs in the NBA Bubble, where the Nuggets became the first team in league history to overcome multiple 3–1 deficits in a single postseason. Although they lost to the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals that year, Malone secured a contract extension on March 23, 2022. The following season, Denver dominated the West, holding the top seed from December 20 onward. They swept the Lakers in the Conference Finals and advanced to their first NBA Finals in franchise history. In Game 5 of the 2023 Finals against the Miami Heat, despite shooting a historically poor 6.7% from three-point range in the first half and committing 10 turnovers, the Nuggets rallied from a 10-point deficit to win 94–89, clinching the title. Nikola Jokić was named Finals MVP.

Reader's Guide

Michael Malone's coaching career is defined by strategic adaptability and resilience. He took over a struggling franchise in 2015 and built it into a consistent playoff contender. His ability to maximize player potential was evident during the 2023 championship run, where he navigated a historic series victory despite significant shooting struggles against Miami. On November 24, 2024, Malone recorded his 433rd win with the Nuggets, surpassing Doug Moe for the most wins in franchise history. However, his time in Denver ended abruptly on April 8, 2025, when he was fired after four consecutive losses, just 79 games into the season—a tie for the latest in-season change by any team in NBA history and the latest dismissal for a playoff team. Following his departure, Malone joined ABC/ESPN as a studio analyst for NBA Countdown.

Did You Know?

• Malone and his father, Brendan Malone, became the second father-son duo in NBA history to both serve as head coaches.
• In 2020, the Nuggets under Malone became the first team in league history to overcome multiple 3–1 deficits in a single postseason.
• On November 24, 2024, Malone surpassed Doug Moe to become the winningest coach in Denver Nuggets franchise history with his 433rd win.
• Malone was fired on April 8, 2025, tying the record for the latest in-season coaching change by any team in NBA history.
• During his playing career at Loyola University Maryland (1989–1993), Malone started 39 of 107 games as a point guard.