Nuggets HC Michael Malone: ‘I miss my family’

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone isn’t starting to get antsy about the lack of contact he’s able to have with his family.

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone just wants to have access to his family while he’s inside the bubble.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Malone didn’t mince words when giving his take on the league’s policy preventing the team’s coaches from bringing anyone inside the bubble. Saying that it’s “criminal in nature,” Malone chided the league for not allowing coaches to bring their families to the bubble, especially in light of players and referees being able to have that luxury.

"“The players have their families here, which they deserve, which is the right thing to do. The referees are allowed to bring one guest, which is great for the referees. The coaches — the coaches are not allowed to bring anybody. I say, shame on you, NBA. This is crazy. I miss my family.”"

Malone would continue, saying that “and I think I speak for me, I speak for my coaches and probably all the coaches down here. Sixty days and not having access and not being granted the privilege to have my family come here, to me, is criminal in nature.”

Humans are social creatures, by nature. So when you don’t allow a person to have their usual level of interaction, particularly with loved ones and family members, it’s going to take a toll on them mentally.

The animated and passionate eloquence of Malone when discussing the league’s decision not to allow coaches to bring anybody into the bubble is evidence of that, especially when considering that it wasn’t prompted by a question. Simply bringing up the length of time that he and others have been in the bubble became a trigger for his response.

It remains to be seen just how long the NBA will continue to disallow coaches from having anyone inside the bubble with them but it’s clear that the lack of standardization from the players and referees to the coaches deserves criticism.