Malone, who has roamed the Nuggets’ sideline for 10 seasons, credited Popovich with helping him get hired by Cleveland (2005) and New Orleans (2010) as an assistant, en route to his first head coaching job with Sacramento. Now he’s the fourth-longest tenured coach in the league with Denver, behind only Popovich, Erik Spoelstra and Steve Kerr.

Michael Malone’s relationship with longtime Spurs ... behind only Popovich, Erik Spoelstra and Steve Kerr. “The guy has been a confidant,” Malone said of Popovich. “Somebody that, even ...