The college basketball world did not hold back as they reacted to a post from North Carolina crediting newly appointed head coach Michael Malone with developing LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Nikola Jokić, among others.
The post was intended to reference Malone’s time as an assistant and player development coach with various NBA teams, during which he worked with many talented players who went on to become superstars. However, it quickly prompted jokes from the basketball community.
UNC Ridiculed for Crediting Michael Malone for Developing LeBron James, Stephen Curry
On Saturday evening, the Tar Heels shared a post on X to hype up Malone and his track record.
The graphic credited Malone for helping develop superstars like James, Curry, Jokić, Chris Paul, and Klay Thompson, among others.
Malone served as an assistant coach and video coordinator at various NBA teams before getting his first head coaching job with the Sacramento Kings in 2013. He had spells with the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New Orleans Hornets, before coaching Curry, Thompson, and Draymond Green with the Golden State Warriors from 2011 to 2013.
While it’s true that Malone was on the coaching staff and worked with these players, the basketball community found this misleading and quickly cracked jokes about the viral graphic.
“Who knows where LeBron, Jokic, and Steph would be if it weren’t for Mike Malone,” Yahoo! Sports podcaster Kevin O’Connor joked under the post.
Who knows where LeBron, Jokic, and Steph would be if it weren’t for Mike Malone
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnor) April 12, 2026
Barstool Sports’ UofM affiliate also joked about the graphic.
“This has to be the most ridiculous graphic of all time,” they posted.
This has to be the most ridiculous graphic of all time
— National Champions Barstool UofM (@BarstoolUofM) April 12, 2026
A Los Angeles Lakers influencer did not agree with the claim that Malone played a role in James’ development. Malone spent five years as Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach during James’ first spell with the franchise.
“bro did NOT develop LeBron,” he wrote.
bro did NOT develop LeBron 😭 https://t.co/wi3ufcSfqe
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 12, 2026
NoVig pointed out that James averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists before getting coached by Malone.
Basketball content creator Kofie Yeboah also criticized the graphic.
“Have some shame,” he wrote.
Have some shame https://t.co/yZQz2cXVNi
— kofie.substack.com (@Kofie) April 12, 2026
ESPN radio host Courtney Cronin described this as “the most insane graphic on the internet right now.”
Some former players even chimed in, as former Dallas Mavericks guard Kyle Collinsworth also trolled the post.
“He didn’t develop any of these dudes,” he wrote with the laughing crying emoji.
He didn’t develop any of these dudes 😂 https://t.co/ekZHrwJTIz
— Kyle Collinsworth (@collinsworth55) April 12, 2026
The UNC Tar Heels job is Malone’s first head coaching role in college basketball. With that said, the 54-year-old brings plenty of coaching experience across his three decades in college basketball and the NBA.
MORE: North Carolina Transfer Portal News: Michael Malone Loses Another Tar Heels Player
Malone won the 2023 NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets. Of all of the stars on that graphic, he deserves the most credit for developing Jokić into the player he is today. After all, Jokić was selected with a second-round pick (No. 41 overall) and has exceeded all expectations in the NBA, becoming a three-time MVP and one of the best players of his generation.
Malone can certainly point to Jokić as a development success story, but the others are a bit more questionable.
