Brendan Malone passes away at age 81, a former NBA coach, known for his role in the Detroit Pistons’ “Bad Boys” defenses and the father of Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone, has passed away at the age of 81 after 27 seasons in the NBA.
Brendan Malone Passes Away at Age 81
A family member confirmed Brendan Malone’s passing, as shared by a Nuggets representative to The Associated Press.
The Denver Nuggets expressed their sadness over his passing on social media, stating that Brendan Malone holds a special place in the organization and will forever be remembered as a Denver Nugget.
Brendan Malone gained recognition during his time as Chuck Daly’s assistant coach in Detroit from 1988 to 1995, where he championed “The Jordan Rules.” These defensive strategies were devised to limit Michael Jordan’s offensive abilities, contributing to the Pistons’ victories in the Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA titles in 1989 and 1990.
In recognition of his significant contributions to the world of basketball, Brendan Malone was honored with the 2023 Tex Winter Assistant Coach Lifetime Impact Award by the National Basketball Coaches Association shortly after his son, Michael Malone, led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship.
Upon receiving the award, Brendan Malone expressed his gratitude to the association and respected figures he had worked with during his 29-year NBA career. He also acknowledged the support of his wife, Maureen, and their six children.
Brendan Malone embarked on his coaching journey in 1967 at Power Memorial Academy in New York City. In the 1970s, he served as an assistant coach at Fordham, Yale, and Syracuse. His NBA career began when he was recruited by New York Knicks coach Hubie Brown as an assistant in 1986.
After his tenure with the Knicks, Brendan Malone joined Chuck Daly’s coaching staff with the Pistons from 1988 to 1995, a period during which the team achieved significant success. He was the inaugural coach of the Toronto Raptors for the 1995-96 season.
Throughout his NBA coaching career, Brendan Malone also worked as an assistant coach for various teams, including the Knicks, Pacers, Cavs, and Magic. He had a brief stint as an interim coach for the Cavs, achieving a record of 8-10 in 18 games.
In his 27 seasons as an NBA coach, teams under Brendan Malone’s guidance reached the playoffs 20 times, the Conference Finals seven times, and the NBA Finals four times, resulting in two NBA championships. His teams amassed a record of 1,165-1,001, representing a .538 win percentage.
Reflecting on his father’s advice to avoid coaching as a career, Michael Malone admitted that he did not heed the warning, choosing to pursue a coaching career despite being aware of the challenges associated with it.
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