Mark Madsen’s Blog
This Saturday Kobe will enter the Hall of Fame. I think about Kobe often. I was Kobe’s teammate on the Lakers for three seasons from 2000 through 2003, mostly as a role player. Then I came back and coached him for his final two seasons from 2013 until his retirement. I wanted to share some … Read more
My brother Paul Madsen is getting ready for his junior year Colorado State for his football team. It seems like just a few years ago Paul was my “little” brother…..now I’m afraid of him breaking me in two!! Paul even set a new school record for the power clean this summer in the weight room with … Read more
Lorenzen Wright was shot and killed last week by multiple bullet shots in a wooded area of Tennessee. Authorities are working on the case. This was some of the saddest news that I could possibly hear. I was never on the same team with Lorenzen, but I’ve played against him for years and had a … Read more
Coaching in the NBA Developmental League has been a dream come true so far. When I was playing for the Lakers I asked Kurt Rambis the question: “Kurt, what do you like more between playing and coaching.” Kurt told me that the two were just very different. He explained that in coaching, you cannot actually … Read more
Interesting the way things happen in life. Months ago, Utah Flash (The NBA minor league team I help coach) owner Brandt Andersen made a public challenge for both Bryon Russell and Michael Jordan to come to Orem Utah to play in a symbolic one-on-one game commemorating past times. 🙂 Brandt himself pledged a check for … Read more
Earlier this week, I went back to downtown Los Angeles and the Staples Center for the first time since I began coaching. We played our NBDL game on Tuesday night and ended up winning at the buzzer on a shot by Dontell Jefferson. After our game, I went and visited Phil and Kobe in the … Read more
I wish I could have been at the Target Center tonight, but instead I watched part of the game live on my iPhone using the NBA league pass application!!! I have to say that Oleksiy Pecherov is going to be a great player for the Wolves. I even got a text from a friend of … Read more
I just signed a one year contract to be an assistant coach with the Utah Flash, located in Orem Utah…..and I’m excited to start coaching! One week ago I went to a Timberwolves game and it was surreal to be up in the stands watching my old teammates and friends, Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Gomes, … Read more
There are reports coming out of Minneapolis that Kurt Rambis is getting strong consideration as the possible new head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. I’m an LA Clipper now, but given that I’ve known Kurt Rambis for over 9 years and given that I played for the Timberwolves, I can say that Rambis would be … Read more
I wanted to take a minute to tell the fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves a heart felt thank you for all of the support and enthusiasm for the team over the past few years. Even though the past couple of years had been tough from a wins and losses perspective, when I will think of … Read more