Fansided

10 NBA personalities suffering from Middle Child Syndrome

By Jeremy Lambert

BOSTON, MA - MAY 25: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics and Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers are seen after the game in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 25, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 25: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics and Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers are seen after the game in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 25, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 11
Next
HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 05: Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a call in the first half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 05: Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a call in the first half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

4. Mike Malone

You might be wondering how a coach with a career .415 winning percentage is wrongfully ignored. You might be saying, “He’s a below-average coach. He’s ignored for a reason.”

Stop saying those things.

Malone was cast aside in Sacramento because, well, that’s Sacramento. The two coaches that preceded him, Paul Westphal and Keith Smart, were given more time and had worse records than Malone. The Kings were a decent team in Malone’s second season until DeMarcus Cousins, who actually liked Malone, missed time. They never recovered and Malone was dismissed.

At least things went much smoother with George Karl coaching the team.

He’s found success in Denver, improving the Nuggets in each of his first two seasons. This year, with the addition of Paul Millsap and the growth of Nikola Jokic, many expect the Nuggets to make the playoffs. They were right there last season, but Russell Westbrook happened.

Yet, Malone isn’t given the credit he deserves. People are more focused on Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich or even Erik Spoelstra and Rick Carlisle. They’re looking at the current dominating coaches or praising coaches for their past accomplishments. Meanwhile, Malone is quietly becoming one of the best Malone’s in NBA history.

Home/NBA