NBA Season Restart 2019-20

Denver coach Michael Malone says he had coronavirus

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone had and recovered from the coronavirus in March, he told Denver’s CBS 4 on Monday.

Malone said he began to feel ill on March 20 but was unable to secure a test. It wasn’t until Malone took an antibody exam last month that he learned he had in fact tested positive for the virus, which prompted the NBA to suspend operations on March 11 as it began to spread throughout the United States. As of Monday night, roughly 118,000 Americans have died from the illness.

“I like to say that I got coronavirus, and I kicked its butt,” Malone said. “I was able to survive it, thank goodness.”

Malone also weighed in on the NBA’s developing plans to resume the 2019-20 season in Orlando under strict quarantine.

“One of the greatest challenges is, the team that can unite the quickest, because of the time off,” said Malone, whose Nuggets entered the hiatus at 43-22, third in the Western Conference. “The second challenge will be mental. You will be stuck in a bubble with no family, no friends, no fans. My challenge to our team is not survive, but thrive.”

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