Every sport has gray days. Brendan Malone, a veteran NBA coach, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 81, the Denver Nuggets said in a statement. Malone, who was the first head coach of the Toronto Raptors during their debut season in 1995–96, had been coaching in the league for 27 years. He was also the father of Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
“It is with tremendous sadness that we share the passing of longtime NBA coach Brendan Malone, who holds a special place amongst the organization and will be a Denver Nugget forever,” the first part of the team’s statement read. They emphasized Brendan Malone’s position as a devoted husband, father, son, and grandparent, as well as the extraordinary influence he had on those who were lucky enough to know him.
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 10, 2023
They also honored Brendan Malone as someone who left behind a great legacy in the world of basketball. Brendan worked as an assistant at Fordham, Yale, and Syracuse before entering the NBA. He then accepted the position of head coach at Rhode Island in 1984. Malone spent two seasons as a Rams assistant before joining the New York Knicks as an assistant under Hubie Brown, Bob Hill, and Rick Pitino.
Brendan Malone’s cause of death remains undisclosed
Brendan Malone passed away at the age of 81 without a known cause of death. Basketball coach Brendan Malone has a distinguished career lasting more than 50 years. He started as a coach at a Manhattan high school before moving on to several universities and the NBA.
Malone had a long and fruitful career, and his demise signaled the end of a major chapter for the sport. Although the precise circumstances of his passing were not made public, his contributions to basketball and the community were warmly acknowledged and honored.
The younger Malone, Michael, went to his office for a moment alone after the Nuggets won the championship in June 2023, and called his father. Michael Malone at the time said, “I couldn’t talk for a minute.” I was emotional, and I just told him, ‘Listen, it’s important for you to know how much I love you.’ And we don’t throw that word around a lot in my family”.
Brendan Malone also worked as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Orlando Magic. He received the 2023 Tex Winter Assistant Coach Lifetime Impact Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic. He will undoubtedly be recalled for his contributions to basketball for many decades to come.