Malone, the daddy of present Nuggets head coach Mike Malone, led the Raptors of their inaugural season in 1995-96. Denver introduced Mike Malone wouldn’t be with the group for its pre-season sport Tuesday evening towards the Phoenix Suns following the information.
Toronto completed 21-61 that season, which included a memorable win over the eventual champion Chicago Bulls, who completed with a league-leading 72-10 document. That stood as the most effective regular-season document in NBA historical past till the Golden State Warriors went 73-9 in 2015-16.
The Raptors have been Malone’s first head teaching job within the NBA, having beforehand been an assistant with the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons.
“The Toronto Raptors organization is saddened by the passing of Brendan Malone, who served as our head coach during the team’s inaugural season in 1995-96, winning a special place in our history and our hearts,” the group stated in an announcement.
“His contributions to the game will forever be remembered, and we offer our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”
He received his begin with the Knick as an assistant coach in 1986 after teaching within the NCAA ranks with Fordham, Yale, Syracuse and Rhode Island since 1976. He helped information the Knicks to a Finals look in 1999 after rejoining the group’s teaching workers following his one-year stint in Toronto.
He received two NBA titles with the Pistons in 1989 and 1990, then-famously often called the “Bad Boys” and imposing the “Jordan Rules,” used to attempt to comprise all-time nice Michael Jordan.
“The Detroit Pistons mourn the passing of former assistant coach Brendan Malone — who graced the coaching bench during two Pistons basketball eras under Chuck Daly and Stan Van Gundy. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time,” the group stated in an announcement.
He additionally held assistant teaching jobs with the Cleveland Cavaliers, — additionally serving as interim head coach in 2004-05 — Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings. He hadn’t coached since 2016, final being with Detroit.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of longtime NBA coach Brendan Malone. Brendan served on the Magic’s coaching staff from 2007-12, helping Orlando reach the NBA Finals in 2009,” the Magic stated in an announcement.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the entire Malone family.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 10, 2023.
The Canadian Press
