The Denver Nuggets stunned the NBA world on Tuesday by announcing the firing of head coach Michael Malone, just three games before the end of the regular season. The decision, which also included the dismissal of general manager Calvin Booth, has left fans, players, and analysts scrambling to understand the reasoning behind such a drastic move.
Michael Malone has been the Nuggets’ head coach since the 2015-16 season, leading the team to eight consecutive winning seasons and their first-ever NBA championship in 2023. Under his leadership, Denver became a perennial contender, with Malone amassing 471 wins—the most in franchise history. Despite this success, the Nuggets decided to part ways with Malone, citing concerns about the team’s trajectory this season.
Josh Kroenke, Vice Chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, released a statement explaining the decision:
“This decision was not made lightly and was evaluated very carefully, and we do it only with the intention of giving our group the best chance at competing for the 2025 NBA Championship.”
Kroenke emphasized that the move was necessary to maintain championship-level standards and expectations.
The timing of Malone’s firing has raised eyebrows, as the Nuggets are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 47-32 record. However, the team has lost four consecutive games, and their defensive rating has plummeted to the bottom half of the league. With the playoffs looming, ownership reportedly felt the signs were there that the season was not going to end well.
Reports suggest that tensions between Malone and Booth may have played a role in the decision. ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk described the relationship between the two as a “cold war,” with philosophical differences creating friction within the organization. Instead of choosing between Malone and Booth, the Nuggets opted to clean house entirely.
Another possible reason for the firing is the hope that it will provide a “jolt” to the team ahead of the playoffs. Kroenke reportedly wants the Nuggets to “play hard and have fun,” aiming to inject new energy into the roster. Lead assistant David Adelman has been named interim head coach, giving ownership a chance to evaluate his potential as a long-term replacement.
The firing has left Nuggets players shocked, with many expressing disbelief at the timing of the decision. Nikola Jokic, who has been performing at an MVP level despite the team’s struggles, now faces the challenge of leading the team through this period of upheaval.
While the Nuggets hope this move will spark a playoff run, the decision to fire Malone and Booth carries significant risks. With just three games remaining in the regular season, the team has little time to adjust to new leadership. Whether this gamble pays off remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Nuggets are betting big on change.
