NBA

Brendan Malone, ex-Knicks assistant and father of Nuggets coach, dead at 81

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Social Links for Zach Braziller
Published Oct. 10, 2023, 2:19 p.m. ET

Brendan Malone, the father of Nuggets coach Mike Malone and a three-time Knicks assistant coach, passed away at the age of 81, the defending NBA champions announced Tuesday.

Malone, an Astoria, Queens native, graduated from Rice High School in Harlem and Iona College before coaching at local powerhouse Power Memorial High School.

After 10 seasons coaching collegiately — including stops as an assistant at Fordham and Syracuse, and head coach at Rhode Island — Malone joined Hubie Brown’s staff with the Knicks in 1986.

Brendan Malone, a former NBA coach who was a Knicks assistant three times, has died at the age of 81.
Brendan Malone, a former NBA coach who was a Knicks assistant three times, has died at the age of 81. NBAE via Getty Images
Brendan Malone (r.) and his son Michael Malone (l.) with the Kings in 2013.
Brendan Malone (r.) and his son Michael Malone (l.) with the Kings in 2013. NBAE via Getty Images

He served as an assistant coach with the Knicks three different times, from 1986-88, 1996-2000 and 2003-04.

Malone spent 27 seasons in the NBA coaching ranks, and served as the head coach of the Raptors and Cavaliers.

Malone was the winner of the 2023 Tex Winter Assistant Coach Lifetime Impact Award and won two NBA championships as an assistant coach with the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons in 1989 and 1990.