SAN ANTONIO — Michael Malone’s coaching life took one of its most positive turns in Argentina, over wine and conversation with one of the NBA’s active coaching legends.
If he wanted to, the Nuggets coach could trace his existence in Denver in the lead chair back to that day.
“Pop had a tremendous impact on my career,” Malone said of longtime San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “When I was in New York (as an assistant) and there was a coaching change, he helped me get the job in Cleveland with Mike Brown. And I didn’t know Mike Brown from Adam.
WATCH:
“But I spent a week with Pop down in Argentina in an NBA camp, and after many bottles of wine, he took a liking to me and he was willing to go to bat for me. He helped me get the job in Cleveland, and he helped me get the job in New Orleans. So, I owe a ton to Coach Popovich and everything he’s done for me and my family.”
Popovich jump-started Malone’s coaching career then, and was there for him again when Malone was hired in Sacramento 2013.
“He told me this when I got the job in Sacramento: ‘Be true to yourself,’ ” Malone said. “People always think in the NBA you can’t coach guys and you can’t get on guys. And obviously there’s plenty of examples of Pop getting on his guys. But as he told me, be yourself, get on guys, coach them, but also let them know that you love them and you care about them. And they’ll be willing to accept that tough coaching.”
Footnotes. Darrell Arthur returned to the lineup after missing Tuesday’s game because of a sinus infection. … The Nuggets are back home for four games starting Friday against Phoenix. … J.J. Hickson and Nikola Jokic returned to normal minutes against the Spurs after playing sparingly at New Orleans because of the matchups.
