This Malone Praise Proves UNC’s Risk Will Be Worth It

• "My experience with him was always great," Hampton stated. " I got traded toward the end of my rookie year, but when I was with Coach [Michael] Malone, he was just a players' coach.  He was full of energy.  He loves the game of basketball."

• "He put a lot of trust in me when I was young.  I was 18 at the time, so having that trust with him was a big thing for me at the beginning of my career.  So I know these college guys he is going to be coaching will be getting the same thing.  I know the players at North Carolina are going to love him."

Throughout the recruitment process, Malone has been straightforward and direct in his meetings. On the other hand, Malone is also known as a players' coach. Hampton explained how Malone walks the fine line and what he expects from his team.

• "I think he balances that by putting his trust in you when you show him what you can do," Hampton said. "I earned my trust in practice.  My first ten to twelve games of my rookie year I didn't see the floor once, but every day I showed up early, stayed late, and eventually he put that trust in me."

• "When I was performing there wasn't any BS.  Now we are just playing.  RJ is in the lineup.  RJ is in the rotation.  Yeah, obviously it's a fine line, but you have a coach who you feel is like a friend.  You could talk to him about anything.  So that's the experience I had with him. It was actually very good. It was a great time playing for him… a great time."

Part of the discussion pertaining to Malone's arrival in Chapel Hill is how he will adapt to the college game. However, Hampton believes the veteran head coach will implement multiple NBA principles into North Carolina's operations.

• "I think he will go about it the same way, honestly," Hampton said. "I don't think he is going to try to conform to the college game.  I think he is going to try to bring the NBA game to college, and I think that is the best thing to do.  Obviously, the talent level is different.  But he knows his guys. He knows his personnel very well. So, whoever he has on his team he is going to try to fit it around like he did in the NBA."     

Overall Thoughts

These comments echo what we have been saying throughout the offseason. The Tar Heels will play an innovative brand of basketball, and they should be much more disciplined on both ends of the court.

With improved coaching, North Carolina has a chance to transform into one of the surprise stories of the 2026-27 college basketball season.