A policy that has spanned over a decade, from New Orleans to Phoenix to Detroit, owes credit to Michael Malone.
Monty Williams has told its origin story before. But during his first season as an NBA head coach in New Orleans, he was at home one night when he got a call from Malone, then an assistant on Williams’ staff. Malone was working on a scouting report for the next day’s game and had a question. It was about 8:30 p.m.
“Mike, where are you?” Williams remembers asking.
“I’m at the office, Coach.”
Williams says he established a rule the next day that remained one of his foundational principles across multiple jobs.