Michael Malone told ESPN's "Inside the NBA" on Thursday that he hasn't given up on his desire to return to coaching in the NBA.

Malone, 54, was fired from the Nuggets in April 2025 and soon after joined ESPN as a game analyst. Despite this, his passion for coaching an NBA team remains undiminished: "I love my wife, my kids, and my dog, but I do miss the camaraderie and the locker room atmosphere. I'm looking forward to getting back on the court."

"I will never stop coaching. The passion for coaching is in my blood, it's something I inherited from my father. I'm eager to get back on the sidelines and coach again."

Michael Malone, the son of the late renowned American coach Brendan Malone, served as an assistant basketball coach at Quaker School in Baltimore, Oakland University, Providence College, and Manhattan College. He officially entered the NBA in 2001 and has served as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets, and Golden State Warriors.

Malone officially began his independent coaching career with the Sacramento Kings in June 2013. He led the team to a 39-67 record until he was fired by the Kings in December 2014 due to a poor start.

Malone was appointed head coach of the Denver Nuggets in June 2015. During his nine seasons as coach of the Nuggets, he led the team to a 510-394 regular season record and won the franchise's first NBA championship in 2023.