Vince Carter shares intriguing North Carolina intel after Michael Malone hiring

Michael Malone will be dealing with a lot of pressure as he begins his stint at North Carolina. Many were surprised when he was picked as the Tar Heels’ new coach, which only added to the weight of the job.

Storied programs like North Carolina can be very insular. But after the time of Hubert Davis, a former star of the Tar Heels, at the helm did not yield optimal results, the school decided to try a different route and hired someone from outside the hallowed halls of Chapel Hill.

Enter Malone, whose only link to UNC is that his daughter plays volleyball for the school.

On his podcast, Vince Carter, an iconic alumnus of North Carolina, revealed that the team was close to hiring a familiar name instead of Malone.

“I was told by my former teammate, Antawn Jamison, who was a part of the process, that they reached out to him, he wasn’t sure at first, and then all of a sudden, he had a change of heart,” said Carter.

Carter admitted that he was surprised when his alma mater hired Malone since Malone was not on anyone’s radar. He, however, added that he appreciated the veteran tactician’s vow to honor the rich heritage of North Carolina, including its deep rivalry with Duke.

“He has said he wants to coach, he wants to develop, but he also wants to keep Carolina basketball the way we know it to be,” noted Carter.

“The one thing that was said to me that I enjoy is that, he said, ‘I’m not trying to change this to be my way. I know what Carolina basketball is, what it was, and what it needs to be. That was comforting.”

.@mrvincecarter15 on UNC hiring Michael Malone:

"I was told by my former teammate, Antawn Jamison, who was a part of the process, that they reached out to him, he wasn't sure at first, and then all of a sudden, he had a change of heart." pic.twitter.com/eiNdqgn6xK

— Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady (@VinceAndTmac) April 8, 2026

Carter and Jamison played for the Tar Heels from 1995 to 1998, forming a dynamic duo. They were named Consensus All-Americans in their senior year, with Jamison also winning as National College Player of the Year.

Carter also shared that Malone has “made a conscious effort” to reach out to other alumni, including Jamison and legendary coach Roy Williams.

Malone led the Denver Nuggets to the championship in 2023.

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