It has been two decades, but it's impossible not to notice that New York guy Michael Malone started his NBA career with New York's basketball team, the team he grew up rooting for and the team for which his father, Brendan Malone, had two lengthy stints (and a third short one) working for as a top assistant coach.
Brendan Malone bounced through six different teams during his tenure as a valued assistant coach in the NBA, but he was a New York guy, through and through. And now with the Knicks having surprisingly discarded coach Tom Thibodeau, it might finally be time for a Malone to take up the reins of the Knicks.
Michael Malone, born in Queens, led the Denver Nuggets to the NBA championship in 2023, and had them positioned again for a playoff run, but was abruptly fired just three games before the end of the season. With the Knicks now having an open job, many around the league are connecting Malone to an MSG return, after having been there in 2003-04 and again in 2004-05 as a scout and an assistant.
Apr 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena.
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
And on social media, Malone is the name that has immediately gained traction.
There are other potential candidates--former Bucks champ Mike Budenholzer, former Villanova coach Jay Wright, and the obligatory mention of Arkansas coach John Calipari, whose ties to the Knicks are strong--but Malone would seem to check the Knicks' boxes.
One box in particular: a championship pedigree.
"Our organization is singularly focused on winning a championship for our fans," team president Leon Rose said in a statement. "This pursuit led us to the difficult decision to inform Tom Thibodeau that we've decided to move in another direction."
Malone has a ring, of course.
As Sam Quinn of CBS Sports wrote on X, "Michael Malone is the obvious Knicks front runner. Mike Budenholzer figures to be in the mix as well. Both champions. Both CAA clients. Johnnie Bryant would figure to be the likeliest first-time candidate given his ties to the team. If Jay Wright ever wanted an NBA job..."
And Rob Lopez of FanDuel noted that, "Michael Malone and Thibs are not the same coach for one pretty important reason." That reason, Lopez pointed out, is Malone's championship ring.
"Locked on NBA" host Swipa Cam wrote, "Michael Malone you are a Knickerbocker."
And former NBA champ Kendrick Perkins said on ESPN, when it comes to the Knicks' next coach, "It might have to be Michael Malone. I mean when you talk about championship experience, what other coach is out there?"
It could be time for a homecoming.