Former Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is the latest addition to the NBA Countdown pre-game show, according to Ben Axelrod of Awful Announcing, who states that ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro revealed the hiring Tuesday during an appearance at Front Office Sports’ Tuned In Summit.
After being dismissed from his coaching job late last season, Malone served as a guest commentator for ESPN during the playoffs. He even sparked a mini-controversy when said Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “showed why he’s the MVP,” although he later clarified that he would have voted for his former player, Nikola Jokic.
Malone was reportedly a candidate to replace Tom Thibodeau in New York before Mike Brown was ultimately hired. With no other head coaching jobs currently open, Malone has opted to continue his career in broadcasting.
It’s uncertain what other changes will be made to the NBA Countdown team, Axelrod adds. Malika Andrews hosted both versions of the show last season, with Stephen A. Smith, Bob Myers and Kendrick Perkins joining her on ABC broadcasts and Perkins, Chiney Ogwumike, Richard Jefferson, Brian Windhorst and Tim Legler rounding out the panel on ESPN games.
Jefferson has been promoted to the network’s top broadcast team, so Malone may simply take his place.
Malone, 54, brings an extensive NBA background to the job. He spent one year as head coach in Sacramento and 10 with the Nuggets, compiling a career record of 510-394 and capturing the championship in 2023. Before that, he served 13 years as an assistant coach with New York, Cleveland, New Orleans and Golden State.