CHAPEL HILL — For all the changes Michael Malone faces in his move from the NBA to college basketball, his core belief hasn’t shifted: winning starts with effort and defense.
Recruiting, NIL and the transfer portal will shape his roster at North Carolina, but Malone’s blueprint is simple — defend, rebound and play for each other.
As he builds his first team and establishes his culture in Chapel Hill, Malone is prioritizing high-motor players who embrace physicality, consistency and basketball IQ — traits he believes translate at any level of the game.
“When I think about the culture that we’re going to create here, (it’s the) same culture we had in Denver, because it doesn’t matter (whether it’s the) NBA or college, you can have a strong culture,” Malone said on April 6 at his introductory press conference.
“That’s going to start with being a team that outworks people (and is) self-motivated. I want to surround myself with players (who) have that kind of work ethic. I shouldn’t have to go to practice and try to motivate you every day.”
Malone said there’s no monetary value in toughness. He wants elite competitors around him and players who consistently bring intelligence and effort.
“If you have a motor, you’re tough and you have an IQ, you have a chance to be a hell of a player,” Malone said.
Beyond talent, Malone emphasizes selflessness and team identity.
“Get over yourself. Check your ego at the door,” Malone said. “We can accomplish a hell of a lot more as a team, we over me.”
“If there’s an open man, make the pass. Don’t hold the ball. Sharing the ball unites teams. That’s going to be an important piece of it too, being an unselfish team that plays for one another.”
Defensively, Malone’s identity has been consistent throughout his career. During his time leading the Denver Nuggets — where he won the 2023 NBA title — and earlier in Sacramento, his teams were built around defensive structure and physicality.
“I am a defensive-minded coach. I believe defense wins championships,” Malone, who won the 2023 NBA title in Denver, said. “I think everything starts on the defensive end of the floor. Your defense is the beginning of your offense.”
Similar to former head coach Hubert Davis’ philosophy, Malone is bringing a mandatory commitment to rebounding.
Like former UNC head coach Hubert Davis, Malone is also placing a strong emphasis on rebounding — an area he identified as a weakness from last season’s team.
“I want to be a team that defends, rebounds at a high level and gets out and runs and plays at a fast pace, up-tempo basketball, and attacks before they get set…,” Malone said. “My goal is (that) through defense and rebounding, we can get out and run and attack.”
The roster construction under Malone is expected to address last season’s inconsistencies, with an emphasis on defensive intensity, rebounding, and more reliable effort possessions — areas he has identified as foundational to building a new identity in Chapel Hill.
“Culture is something you have to work on every single day,” Malone said. “I think as we put pieces together, we’re going to have a chance to have success because we’re going to be about the right things and work on those things every single day.”