Malik Allen, an 11-year NBA veteran, was hired as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Malik Allen had an impressive NBA career as a power forward that went undrafted out of Villanova in the 2000 NBA Draft.
Now, Allen will join the Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant coach. Allen has been working with the Detroit Pistons as an assistant for the past four years and has been trying to help former head coach Stan Van Gundy rebuild that organization to no avail as they were both let go after last season.
Allen didn’t necessarily average crazy great numbers during any of his stints in the league, but he was consistently a valuable role-player.
Allen gets hired as a replacement to Rick Brunson resigned this summer. Brunson did well as a Timberwolves assistant but he had an infamous reputation off the court due to multiple sexual assault allegations .
Allen will specifically be working with the big men on the team and hope to get them into defensive shape — specifically Karl-Anthony Towns. While Towns has been improving himself as an athlete this offseason, he needs plenty of work when it comes to defense.
Hopefully, Allen can prepare him for the insanely good offensive centers the NBA has to offer.
Head coach Tom Thibodeau had this to say about the hiring of Malik Allen:
"Via, RealGM“He came up the hard way, undrafted, terrific career as a player,” Thibodeau said. “Everywhere he has been, his teammates loved him and he’s done a great job as a coach.”"
Allen played for eight different franchises and the Minnesota Timberwolves will be the tenth different franchise he’s gotten a pay check from. Allen knows the ins and outs of the NBA extremely well and should be an asset to the Wolves bench.
Experience usually trumps all, and hopefully it will work out in this situation. Allen joins what is already a great staff, including Tom Thibodeau, Andy Greer, Ed Pinckney, and Ryan Saunders.
Hopefully, Malik Allen stays and learns from Thibs and helps create a better foundation in Minnesota.