Malik Allen has been hired by the Detroit Pistons as an assistant coach.

Stan Van Gundy coached Allen during their time together with the Miami Heat and had remained in close contact ever since.

"We just happened to be talking and I said, 'Listen, if there is anything I can do or any capacity I can help, let's stay in touch,' " Allen said in a phone interview. "So then we talked more and more in depth about how I can fit with the organization."