When it comes to people who have benefitted handsomely from the Dallas Mavericks’ Ballkid program, Mavs Academy and the team’s various internship programs, arguably no
one has benefitted more than Mikey Malone.
But it’s not just Malone’s presence in the aforementioned programs that has seen him soar to new heights. It’s what he was able to accomplish while he was in those programs that set him apart from others.
Malone spent five years (2015-2020) as a Mavs Ballkid, was a camp coach for three years with Mavs Academy, in addition to interning with the Mavs Foundation, the Community Relations department and the Basketball Operations department. In essence, for the past 10 years Malone has had his feet in the doors of numerous departments with the Mavs while piecing together a very impressive resume.
“Being a Ballkid was great,” Malone told Mavs.com. “I had to go to camp first to get the application, and then once I got in it was great.
“As a Ballkid I passed out a lot of promotion items at the door (before Mavs’ games at American Airlines Center). The awesome part was getting to sweep or mop the floor regardless of which quarter it was. It was just a great experience. The Mavs have always been my favorite team literally since I was a little kid.”
Malone acknowledged that his finest moment as a Ballkid came on April 9, 2019 when the Mavs defeated the Phoenix Suns, 120-109. That was Dirk Nowitzki’s final home game during his illustrious 21-year career with the Mavs as Charles Barkley, Detlef Schrempf, Scottie Pippen and many others were on hand for the post-game 
ceremonies.
“It was actually really cool that I was actually able to mop the court during Dirk’s last home game, and I was actually on the court at the same time after the last quarter when Charles Barkley and all the legends were out there on the court,” Malone said. “It was a great experience as a Ballkid and it was so much fun.”
As Malone steadily worked his way through the Mavs’ system, one of his supervisors in the Basketball Operations department pointed out something that made Malone a very valuable asset.
“One thing I always noticed about Mikey is you never had to worry about the work ethic,” said Brandon Barkley, the Mavs’ director of player relations. “He stayed late, he came in early and he worked really hard.
“The guy was willing to do any and everything that was asked of him with no questions and no ego at all. That’s something you really look for, not only in an intern, but just someone that’s going to be doing a job with you. I think that’s the most impressive I was with him is that tireless work ethic, and his attention to detail was unmatched as well.”
Barkley went a step farther in praising Malone by saying: “He was one of the best interns, I think, we’ve ever had.”
The kudos didn’t stop there for Malone.
Over the past five years he worked as the head manager and graduate assistant for the University of North Texas. During that period the Mean Green won the Conference USA championships in 2021 and 2022, and the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship in 2023.
Also while at UNT, Malone earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation, Event and Sport Management in 2024, and he’s in his second year of working on his MBA in Sport Entertainment Management.
In addition, this past Tuesday was Malone’s first day working as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City University Stars. Not bad for someone who just turned 23 less than a month ago.
“It’s a great opportunity,” said Malone, of his OCU job. “I think I’m going to be able to grow a lot from this new role. I feel like it’s going to keep getting better and better as time progresses.
“Also, I was lucky enough and blessed from God to be named the 2024 Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Division I Student Assistant of the Year.”
Barkley is not surprised by the success Malone has enjoyed.
“This kid is so impressive and mature for his young age that I think he’ll probably be a head coach somewhere, or doing even bigger things, perhaps in the front office in the NBA or with an organization,” Barkley said. “I think he has a bright future ahead of him.
“He’ll be someone that I’d like to keep an eye on for sure, moving forward. And hopefully we can perhaps get him back when he decides to come back to Dallas.”
A product of Murphy and a 2020 graduate of Plano East High School, Malone has rightfully not placed a ceiling on his long-range aspirations. But he does have one job on his bucket list he wishes to one day secure.
“I think my long-term goal is to be a general manager one day,” Malone said. “That will be the dream job.
“It was definitely a dream to be with the Mavs – the hometown team. But I think the dream would be to be an NBA general manager.”
Barkley said that certainly is possible because of the way Malone carries himself and checks all the boxes.
“I can definitely see him (being a GM) at some point,” he said. “The way he works. He has a basketball mind. He really gets it.
“You’ve got to have an attention to detail that is unmatched if you’re going to be a GM or a front office member, so that’s something that I really pay attention to with him.”
While working with the Mavs’ Basketball Operations earlier this year, Malone said: “It was really cool in terms of being inside the facilities from that aspect of it when you’re seeing (coach) Jason Kidd, you’re seeing (general manager) Nico (Harrison), you’re doing stuff to help with different draft preparations, the summer league and really doing anything that was needed with the organization. Every experience I’ve had has truly been great and they’ve all just improved every time I’ve worked with the organization.”
As he looks back on his journey with the Mavs, Malone still keeps in contact with some of the Ballkids that he worked alongside. And during his duties as a Mavs camp coach, he said: “That was great just being able to get back to the kids and kind of see how I was in those same steps and shoes when I was younger. I love giving back.
“And then also just being able to do it with the team that I grew up loving. This was a team that I always wanted to be a part of, so it really meant a lot.”
Also, the Mavs Foundation internship enabled Malone the chance to see the inner workings of the organization from another perspective. He even got to help with the Mavs Legacy Project when they advanced to the 2024 NBA Finals.
The Mavs Legacy Project was a community initiative in partnership with NBA Cares and the Mavs Foundation to renovate a Boys & Girls Club in East Dallas. That project included a new basketball court, an updated STEM lab, a multi-purpose play zone with games, new furnishings, computers and decor for the club members.
“The whole experience was great,” Malone said. “They had (NBA commissioner) Adam Silver, the new owners, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Jaden Hardy and Dereck Lively II there.
“It was an opportunity for me to be a part of that organization at a different aspect than what I was used to.”
All of Malone’s experiences with the Mavs over the past decade played a role in helping mold him into the model citizen he is today.
“I think they helped shape me into understanding a level of maturity in terms of working in professional sports just from the aspect that you’re re
presenting something bigger than yourself,” Malone said. “Obviously, you’re representing your family, but you’re also representing an organization like the Mavericks which is obviously one of the biggest in the world, and also just realizing that anything that you do is also a reflection of the organization.
“So, it just allowed me to become way more mature. That time helped me grow – not only my time with the Mavericks, but my time with North Texas basketball as well.”
And as Malone continues to grow, he will forever be thankful for the seeds he was able to plant while being a part of the Mavs’ organization.
“Being a part of the Mavericks’ organization has always been a dream of mine,” Malone said. “I really feel like I’ve been blessed by God to have these types of opportunities.
“Every experience that I’ve had has been really good, and I’m just grateful for everyone that I’ve worked with in the Mavs’ organization. I truly believe being a part of the organization has definitely led me to where I am today. Everyone that I worked with has been great, and I truly, truly am just blessed.”
X: @DwainPrice