Michael Malone was born into basketball. His father, Brendan, was a coach as well at a high level, with stints as an assistant with the Raptors, Knicks, Pacers, and others. Almost by necessity and osmosis, Michael cultured a fondness and devotion to basketball which launched his own successful career as coach before he ever landed with the Denver Nuggets.
Starting his tenure in the NBA with the Knicks, Malone learned and perfected his own craft. He took some stops along the way, and then climbed the ranks to landing a head coaching position with the Sacramento Kings, which was brief, and ended abruptly.