The Denver Nuggets have parted ways with head coach Michael Malone, just three games before the conclusion of the 2024-2025 NBA regular season and it was a surprise. Malone, who led the Nuggets to their first NBA Championship in 2023, leaves as the winningest coach in franchise history, ending a decade-long tenure that saw the team rise from rebuilders to perennial contenders.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, has stunned the basketball world, not only for its timing but also for its apparent lack of immediate justification. The Nuggets boast a 47-32 record this season and were widely considered among the favorites to make a deep playoff run. Malone’s firing ties an NBA record for the latest dismissal of a head coach in a season.
Reports suggest, however, that the move was not entirely unexpected behind the scenes. NBA insider Brian Windhorst revealed during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up that the team’s ownership had been considering Malone’s departure for some time. “Some winning this season is masking some problems,” Windhorst stated. “It seems to me the ownership didn’t want Michael Malone to wiggle out of this by having a good postseason run.”
Denver’s governor, Josh Kroenke, is reported to have been at odds with Malone for a significant portion of the season, with the team allegedly contemplating his dismissal at various points. Sources indicate that the organization wanted to address internal tensions before potential playoff success complicated their decision.
Another interesting theory on the situation
Adding to the intrigue, Fox Sports analyst Nick Wright speculated on First Things First that backup point guard Russell Westbrook’s presence may have played a role in Malone’s firing. Wright highlighted past instances in which coaches were dismissed during Westbrook’s tenures with other teams, including Frank Vogel with the Los Angeles Lakers and Scott Brooks with the Oklahoma City Thunder. While there is no confirmation of this claim, it has sparked debate about the dynamics within the Nuggets’ locker room.
Interim head coach David Adelman now faces the unenviable task of leading Denver into the playoffs under the shadow of this controversy. The team’s aspirations for another championship are still alive, but questions loom about the impact of this decision on their postseason performance and their long-term trajectory.
For now, the focus remains on the fallout from this seismic decision. Michael Malone’s departure not only marks the end of an era for the Nuggets but also raises profound questions about the balance of power between management and coaching in the NBA. As the playoffs approach, the basketball world will be watching closely to see whether Denver’s gamble pays off, or if it derails the franchise’s momentum entirely.
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