Brendan Malone, an NBA stalwart for more than 30 years, including his most memorable with the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons, has died at the age of 81.
Malone won two titles with the Detroit Pistons as an assistant coach under Chuck Daley in 1989 and 1990. He was part of the staff who crafted the famed “Jordan Rules” that saw Detroit focus all of its defense (and defensive intensity) at Michael Jordan and make one of the Bulls star’s teammates make a play instead.
Malone was also the father of current Denver Nuggets assistant coach Michael Malone, and the Nuggets announced the elder Malone’s passing on social media.