The North Carolina Tar Heels are getting roasted on social media for a post that may have hyped up new head coach Michael Malone a bit too much.
The Tar Heels have been eager to tout their new head coach’s credentials since announcing Malone’s hiring last week. On Saturday, their X account posted a graphic touting Malone’s history of player development at the NBA level.
The graphic included a number of NBA stars, including LeBron James, Steph Curry, Chris Paul, and Nikola Jokic.
Just to list a few. pic.twitter.com/66mvDjJg6n
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) April 11, 2026
To most, the graphic is giving Malone a little too much credit. He was an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-2010, and joined once James had already established himself as a star. Paul was already an All-NBA selection by the time Malone joined the Charlotte Hornets as an assistant in 2010, and he spent just one year there. He only spent two seasons with the Warriors before Curry blossomed into the greatest shooter ever.
Malone can have some credit for Jokic, as his first season as coach coincided with Jokic’s first year in the NBA. Despite that, few were willing to give Malone much credit for Jokic becoming what he did.
Who knows where LeBron, Jokic, and Steph would be if it weren’t for Mike Malone
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnor) April 12, 2026
This has to be the most ridiculous graphic of all time
— National Champions Barstool UofM (@BarstoolUofM) April 12, 2026
So basically Mike Malone has developed everyone NBA all star of the past 25 years.
— Michael Luke (@ironmikeluke) April 12, 2026
Impressive stuff for being the 9th option for North Carolina
Malone is an NBA champion who consistently coached successful teams at the highest level. The Tar Heels really didn’t have to sell him this hard. Plus, with what they are paying him, the Tar Heels have already heaped enough pressure on their new head coach.
