NBA: Nuggets name ex-Kings boss Malone as new coach

Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum, front, of Australia, gets hit over the head by Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, right, as guard Ty Lawson watches during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game on February 27, 2015, in Denver. The Nuggets will be playing with new coach Mike Malone–formerly with the Sacramento Kings–next season.

DENVER, United States – Mike Malone, the former coach of the Sacramento Kings, has been hired as the new coach of the Denver Nuggets, the NBA club announced Monday.

The Kings went 39-67 under Malone in just over a season with the team. Sacramento fired Malone after an 11-13 start last season, the team going 2-7 after standout DeMarcus Cousins suffered a viral infection.

“I’m thrilled to have been chosen as the next leader for the Denver Nuggets,” Malone said. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Malone had been an assistant with the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers as well as New Orleans and Golden State.

“I’m excited to be reunited with Michael. I’ve known him for years and our relationship predates our time in New Orleans,” Nuggets general manager and executive vice president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said.

“He knows the game as well as anybody and I have always admired his work ethic and character.”

Melvin Hunt had completed the season guiding the Nuggets after Bryan Shaw was fired as coach on March 3. The Nuggets went 30-52 in the 2014-15 campaign, 10-13 under Hunt.

Malone is the son of long-time NBA coach Brendan Malone, who has worked as a coach or assistant in the NBA for 27 seasons.