Don Newman

Malone Gets Second Interview With Nuggets

Michael Malone has landed a second interview with the Nuggets for their head coaching vacancy, tweets ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, who cites sources. Stein also tweets that he expects Mike D’Antoni to secure a second interview with the team, and that interim coach Melvin Hunt remains firmly in the mix to keep the job on a full-time basis. It is not clear when Malone’s second interview with the Nuggets will take place.

The Nuggets initially interviewed Malone, primarily known as a defensive coach, on Tuesday. Malone was fired as coach of the Kings in December. Malone’s regular season coaching record with the Kings was 39-67.

Hunt reportedly emerged as the front-runner to land the job on a more permanent basis in late May. Denver interviewed D’Antoni, who is known for running up-tempo offenses, on Tuesday as well. The Nuggets received permission to interview Wizards assistant Don Newman, who has been an NBA assistant coach for 16 NBA seasons, on Thursday. It also appears Denver is in line to interview Clippers assistant coach Mike Woodson. The Nuggets have the league’s only remaining coaching vacancy.

Nuggets Interview Don Newman

The Nuggets received permission to interview Wizards assistant Don Newman, and GM Tim Connelly discussed the franchise’s vacant head coaching position with him this week, Shams Charania of RealGM reports. Newman has been an NBA assistant coach for 16 NBA seasons, including an eight-year stretch with the Spurs where he developed a reputation as a strong defensive coach, Charania notes.

It seems as if Denver has changed gears after reportedly having designs on landing an offensive-minded coach who could revamp the team’s attack.  The Wizards ranked tenth overall this past season in points allowed (8021), and second in field goal percentage allowed (.433). Both are areas that Newman’s coaching had a direct influence on, Charania notes. The franchise also reportedly interviewed former Kings coach Michael Malone this week, and Malone is also known primarily for his defensive acumen.

Other names reportedly in the mix for Denver’s head coaching vacancy are Mike D’Antoni, Clippers assistant Mike Woodson, and interim coach Melvin Hunt, who had been considered the front-runner to land the post on a more permanent basis.