Denver coach Michael Malone to take charge of All-Star team picked by LeBron James
Sunday 3 February 2019 11:47, UK
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone will take charge of the All-Star team picked by LeBron James.
Malone clinched his first All-Star coaching role on Saturday night, when the Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 107-106.
The All-Star coaching jobs are determined by which teams have the best records in each conference through Sunday, and Denver (37-15) clinched a tiebreaker over Golden State (also 37-15) by having a better record against Western Conference opponents.
Denver star Nikola Jokic will also go as one of the reserves for the All-Star Game to be played on February 17 in Charlotte.
"Obviously any time you can be a part of the All-Star weekend, that's an honour not only for yourself but for your entire coaching staff and for your organisation," Malone said.
"And that's why we feel tremendous pride that Nikola was voted an All-Star reserve this year. His first time and our first All-Star since Carmelo Anthony. So we take great pride in that."
If Denver lost to Minnesota, Golden State's Steve Kerr would have been the All-Star coach for the third time in five years.
Kerr and his staff will get a few days off instead of going to Charlotte for the festivities although Warriors stars Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson will be heading to play in the game.
Milwaukee Bucks' Mike Budenholzer already wrapped up the other spot, with the Bucks top of the Eastern Conference, and he will coach the team picked by the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo.
James and Antetokounmpo will both choose their teams on Thursday night.
