Reggie Miller believes Michael Jordan’s influence at UNC extends far beyond the brand on the jerseys, suggesting he played a role in a controversial hiring. It appears that the Mikes look out for each other. Or so Miller thinks happened in this case. The Tar Heels fired Hubert Davis and turned to former Denver Nuggets coach, a move that raised eyebrows despite Michael Malone’s limited prior Chapel Hill ties beyond his daughter’s enrollment.

Back on The Dan Patrick Show, Miller suggested that Jordan’s role as the most influential figure in North Carolina history made him a silent partner. “I think he has a huge influence. I mean, he’s their most famous athlete.” The UCLA alum is not exactly in the Tar Heel fold, but has good reason to believe they take Jordan’s input, as they do with many other things.

“Their team is repped by Jordan Brand,” Miller noted. “So, I’m sure he had a say in it. I’m sure he did his due diligence. I’m sure he had his conversations with Michael Malone.”

As Miller said, the link is both personal and commercial. The Jordan Brand outfits the Tar Heels, and he makes frequent appearances at their games. At one point, a coach closer to Jordan’s Bulls was under consideration. “Hall-of-Fame Billy Donovan, who’s currently with the Chicago Bulls, but, unlike Stevens, would be willing to at least consider the opportunity at UNC if the school comes calling,” CBS reported.

His Airness’ attendance alongside Lawrence Taylor and Randy Moss at Bill Belichick’s first game as UNC football coach in 2025 further reinforced his presence in the athletic department. It might not be extreme to suggest Jordan’s approval carries significant weight that extends beyond that of a regular alumnus. While the extent of Jordan’s involvement remains speculative, his brand power could bridge generations of athletes and help in the NIL/transfer portal era.

Mike Malone joining UNC might not be a bad idea, amid Michael Jordan’s presence

Malone does have a personal UNC connection: His daughter, Bridget Malone, is a sophomore on the Tar Heels women’s volleyball team. Another UNC alum, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, was initially hesitant about the hire, preferring someone from the Tar Heel family. However, Smith ultimately expressed excitement, citing Malone’s championship experience and player-development track record (including turning Nikola Jokic into a 3x MVP). He noted that Malone was essentially an “honorary Tar Heel” due to family ties.

If Michael Jordan really did have a role in bringing Malone’s NBA pedigree to the program, it’s not unrealistic. Skeptics like Dan Patrick questioned whether he would fully grasp the needs of young players in the NIL and transfer portal era. Reggie Miller, however, emphasized the enduring power of the Jumpman logo with both kids and parents. Beyond the speculation, the Pacers legend expressed genuine relief that Malone found a landing spot worthy of his tactical mind.

“Good for him. I was surprised that last year there were so many job openings in the pro game and he wasn’t able to get one of them, and you talk about a basketball savant,” Miller said, referencing the spate of coach firings in 2025 (mainly of NBA coaches named Mike). “I thought he got kind of railroaded when he was in Denver. This is a great job for him to kind of set pace, and step back in life because NBA is go-go-go.”

The Nuggets abruptly fired Malone in April 2025 during the final week of the regular season (just before the playoffs), a shocking move given his 2023 championship and decade of success with the franchise. His strategic pivot to the ACC was viewed by some as a step down, but Miller saw the UNC job as the perfect “reset” button.