Mike Malone and Isaiah Thomas' relationship stretches back to the pair's days with the Sacramento Kings. Thomas got his start in the league with the Kings and spent a full season in 2013-14 under Malone's tutelage as head coach. The two have an excellent relationship and the Nuggets veteran attributes that to Malone's honesty. Mike Singer of the Denver Post writes:

“In this league, a lot of people will tell you what you want to hear, he’s a guy that tells you what you need to hear,” Thomas said to Singer.

“Shout me out, coach!” Thomas yelled to reporters, emerging from the Nuggets’ home locker room as Malone conducted an otherwise mundane news conference earlier this season.

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These quotes and the interaction between Thomas and Malone indicates that the two have an excellent relationship with one another. One of the worst things a coach can do is mislead a player. Telling a guy what he wants to hear rather than what he needs to hear is the easiest way to mislead a player.

Furthermore, Malone has already built up credibility with Thomas. The point guard's breakout season in the NBA came during Malone's first year with the Kings. Perhaps Malone can unlock the MVP-candidate version of Thomas when he returns from injury, rather than the Cleveland Cavaliers version of Thomas that looked lost on both ends of the floor.

Whatever the case may be, you can bet that Malone isn't sugarcoating anything for Thomas. He's telling him exactly what he needs to hear.