Jeff Malone
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Nigel Malone is a retired American
professional basketball
player. He played college basketball
at Mississippi State University
, and is mostly known for his time with the Washington Bullets (1983-90) of the NBA
, where he was an NBA All-Star
twice, playing the shooting guard
position. He also played for the Utah Jazz
, Philadelphia 76ers
, and Miami Heat
.
over 13 years in the NBA. He was known for his capable offense, averaging more than 20 points in six full NBA seasons with Washington and Utah. In particular, Malone was adept at running his defender through a pick or series of picks, receiving a pass and hitting a quick jump shot. At times, he would go on a hot streak and, seemingly unstoppable, score 15+ points in a single quarter.
On January 3, 1984, Malone, during his rookie season hit an amazing game-winning 3-pointer against the Detroit Pistons
, as he fell out of bounds along the left baseline and lofted the basketball above the backboard and made it to give the Bullets a 103-102 lead with 1 second left. This shot was listed as one in a votable list of the NBA's greatest shots. He averaged a career-best 24.3 points per game with the Bullets in 1990.
Malone also coached the NBA Development League
's Columbus Riverdragons from 2001 to 2005, compiling a 102-98 record, before the franchise changed ownership and moved to Austin, Texas
, renaming the team the Austin Toros
and leaving Malone out of a job. He spent some time as the head coach of the Florida Flame
until that team ceased operations in 2006, citing a lack of own home court.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, and is mostly known for his time with the Washington Bullets (1983-90) of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, where he was an NBA All-Star
National Basketball Association All-Star Game
The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. From that year on, the game has matched the best players in the Eastern Conference with the best players in the Western Conference....
twice, playing the shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
position. He also played for the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
, and Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
.
Basketball career
Malone averaged 19.0 points per gamePoints per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
over 13 years in the NBA. He was known for his capable offense, averaging more than 20 points in six full NBA seasons with Washington and Utah. In particular, Malone was adept at running his defender through a pick or series of picks, receiving a pass and hitting a quick jump shot. At times, he would go on a hot streak and, seemingly unstoppable, score 15+ points in a single quarter.
On January 3, 1984, Malone, during his rookie season hit an amazing game-winning 3-pointer against the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, as he fell out of bounds along the left baseline and lofted the basketball above the backboard and made it to give the Bullets a 103-102 lead with 1 second left. This shot was listed as one in a votable list of the NBA's greatest shots. He averaged a career-best 24.3 points per game with the Bullets in 1990.
Malone also coached the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
's Columbus Riverdragons from 2001 to 2005, compiling a 102-98 record, before the franchise changed ownership and moved to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, renaming the team the Austin Toros
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
and leaving Malone out of a job. He spent some time as the head coach of the Florida Flame
Florida Flame
The Florida Flame were a NBA Development League team based in Fort Myers, Florida. Its logo represents a basketball on fire moving at high speed....
until that team ceased operations in 2006, citing a lack of own home court.