Mike Malone has been hired as the new coach of the Denver Nuggets, sources told ESPN on Monday.
Malone, who went 39-67 over parts of two seasons after the Sacramento Kings hired him following the 2013 season, was the lone candidate to interview twice for the Nuggets.
He replaces Melvin Hunt, who took over on an interim basis for Brian Shaw, who was fired in early March. Besides Hunt, former Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni also was a candidate for the position.
Malone is a veteran NBA assistant who made stops with the Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets and Golden State Warriors before being hired as coach in Sacramento. He was fired on Dec. 14 after the Kings had started this season 11-13.
The hiring was earlier reported by Yahoo! Sports.