EXCEPTIONAL HIRE! 👏 Stephen A. likes Michael Malone going to North Carolina 🏀 | First Take
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Sean Farnham join Shae Cornette to react to the UNC Tar Heels hiring Michael Malone as the team’s next head coach.
0:00 Stephen A. reacts
4:55 Sean Farnham joins
6:40 UNC vs. Duke
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42 Comments
😂😂😂😂 Sure you do SAS you were so off base. 😂😂😂😂😂
Best rivalry in sports is Yanks and Sox’s and I’m more so a basketball fan.
This is a terrible fit and the Heels are heading for more mediocrity.
They should've hired Rashad MCcants 😂
Karl malone, moses malone, mike malone, post malone, lakers getting swept 2026 and beyond!!!!
Malone got a hangover over that one chip and trash talking lbj. Look at him now😂
bigtime college sports is now a semipro league so why not have pro coaches
UNC to hire MJ23
If Mike Malone wants to succeed at UNC, he’s going to have to trust the young talent on the roster. In Denver with the Nuggets, he leaned heavily on a short rotation, often favoring veterans and limiting opportunities for younger players, sometimes giving extended minutes to guys who probably didn’t need that kind of leash.
That approach doesn’t translate well to the college game. At UNC, you’re dealing with 4- and 5-star recruits who expect to contribute right away. They’re not going to sit around for two or three years waiting for meaningful minutes—if they don’t see a path to playing time, they’ll head straight to the transfer portal. If Malone wants to keep top talent and stay competitive, he’s going to have to adjust his philosophy and develop his young players early.
Terrible hire, terrible recruiter and mike doesnt make adjustments on the nba level why tf would he do it in college . These guys are jokes.
As a UNC fan I'm thrilled to hear the news. Since SAS likes this as well, I'm immediately kind of worried.
Bro look like a mix between Drew Brees and Dabo Sweeney
Tarheel born and bred, Duke blah, blah, blah. UConn is the best program at the moment. Duke's only title with one and dones and top recruiting classes was 2015. Since then UNC 3 finals 1 title. Villanova 2 titles. UConn 3 finals 2 titles. By the way Roy Williams at Carolina won 3 titles to K's 2.
I hope Duke fans know that all you have to do to get in his head is call him Mike
I honestly think this won’t work
Mike Malone is a great hire he won't take any crap from the players
We Got The Best Coach In The ACC. Maybe The Country.
It Is In The Family… His Daughter Goes To UNC.
I Don't Think We Can Keep Him. NBA Gonna Call Him Back.
He Don't Need To Recruit. We CAROLINA Baby… He Just Has To Pick The Right Players.
Duke Are Peeing In Their Pants Right Now. That We Got This Guy. 😆
Malone is a great coach, but he’s an NBA coach. Dealing with 19 year olds making millions from NIL, who care more about their own brand than a program or actual UNC, might not go so well…
Oh no better gsw
Just to put to rest the non-Tar Heel connection … there is a slight one that nobody has mentioned. Malone was an assistant for the Charlotte Hornets during the 2010-11 season, which just happened to be the first season under their new owner – Michael Jordan. Malone spent one season in Charlotte and then went to Golden State, while Jordan would sell the team in 2023.
I like this hire. Let's go Mike!
Duke is always the favorite to win and they never do😂. 💩
I’m still not sold on this hire. Being second fiddle to those scrubs in Durham needs to be handled
What about Mark Jackson ;;;;;
Hubert got himself fired by not making adjustments in his bench in trusting them while up by 15 or more points he could have put them in for about 5 minutes of rest for the starters, he did this twice and it cost him a championship.
IM A BIG UNC FAN & THIS GOT ME 🤐UP
1. Can he recruit???
2. How much is UNC willing to spend in NIL???
Hubert Davis also lost a 15-point halftime lead in the national championship game. I don't care about VCU, I care about him costing us a championship, all these sports reporters are clueless, nobody's brought this up.
No true Carolina fan would never accept a Hurley at Carolina who would even consider it
UNC has their own standards that are at the highest level. Puke’s mediocre success had nothing to do with Hubert being fired.
We will never match the Williams/coach k era
As a fan I was a bit skeptical yesterday. Hearing former UNC players endorse him, then watching his PC…..I'M NOW COMPLETELY STOCKED with our new Coach!!!
Bill bilicheck and Mike Malone the old guys in the house of Jordan built. This should be interesting.
pretty sure he goes by michael, not mike.
Dude on the right look sick asl
Espn needs to get rid of smith.
Dook had nothing to do with this lol. Jon ain't won anything. And Hubert has beaten him lol
Fool wanted Kenny Smith. 😂😂