3-time NBA MVP endorses Michael Malone as UNC head coach

[ASFN Admin]

After nearly three weeks of searching, the UNC men's basketball program finally found its guy. On Monday afternoon, North Carolina hired longtime Denver Nuggets boss Michael Malone to be its next head coach.

Even with previous stops at Oakland (MI) University, Providence College and Manhattan University, Malone is a collegiate head coach for the first time. Malone has 510 wins across 12 NBA seasons, including the 2023 NBA Championship – Denver's first in franchise history.

Malone is widely credited with developing Nikola Jokic into the NBA superstar he is today. Earlier this week, Jokic spoke on his former head coach making the collegiate jump.

“I’m happy for him," Jokic said. "I wish him well. I think it’s a little bit different just because he was coaching NBA for 12-15 years. But he definitely has the poise and the brain to do it. I think he’s going to do a really good job, because I think he can actually coach the guys...and teach them how to play the game the right way."

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Jokic, a 3-time NBA MVP, is arguably the best center in professional basketball. Jokic continues to thrive post-Malone, but the Tar Heels' new head coach played a crucial role in his early, career development.

Fans are extremely happy about UNC's new hire, which is the first outside your traditional "Carolina Family" since the 1950s. Malone delivered his introductory press conference on Tuesday, reiterating how thankful he is for the job.

With Malone's hire, will players like Derek Dixon and Jonathan Powell withdraw themselves from the transfer portal? Regardless of who joins the fold this fall, North Carolina has a bright future ahead.

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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: New UNC head coach Michael Malone endorsed by NBA MVP Nikola Jokic

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