Michael Malone’s blockbuster $50 million deal with North Carolina has created a surprising financial comparison, placing his salary above several players from the very NBA team he once coached.
The former Denver Nuggets head coach has secured a six-year contract worth $50 million, a move that underlines UNC’s ambition while also highlighting the scale of his earnings relative to players still in the league.
That contrast is what has caught attention. Because Malone’s salary now overlaps directly with NBA player pay.
Michael Malone UNC salary puts him among top earners in basketball
The figures were highlighted in a post shared via Yahoo Sports, outlining just how significant the deal is.
Malone’s six-year, $50 million contract equates to an annual salary of $8.33 million.
That level of pay not only places him among the highest-paid college coaches, but also positions him alongside NBA-level earnings.
The number stands out even more given his recent exit from the Denver Nuggets, making the comparison with his former team unavoidable.
Michael Malone now earns more than nine Denver Nuggets players this season
The comparison becomes clearer when looking at current Denver Nuggets salaries, as listed on Basketball Reference, where Malone’s $8.33 million annual figure surpasses multiple players on the roster.
That includes Zeke Nnaji ($8.1 million), Christian Braun ($4.9 million), Peyton Watson ($4.3 million), DaRon Holmes ($3.2 million), Julian Strawther ($2.6 million), Tim Hardaway Jr. ($2.2 million), Bruce Brown ($2.2 million), Jalen Pickett ($2.2 million) and Spencer Jones ($623K).
The contrast is striking, as Malone’s coaching salary now exceeds that of nine active NBA players from the franchise he previously led.
It also highlights the growing financial power within college basketball, where top programs are willing to invest at levels that rival parts of the professional game.
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