Nuggets Fire Coach Michael Malone Ahead of Playoffs \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Denver Nuggets shocked the NBA by firing head coach Michael Malone just three games before the postseason. Despite leading the team to its first-ever title in 2023 and securing seven straight playoff berths, Malone and GM Calvin Booth are out. Assistant David Adelman takes over as interim coach.
Quick Looks:
- Michael Malone fired after nearly 10 years as Nuggets head coach.
- Nuggets have three games left and are playoff-bound.
- GM Calvin Booth also out; contract will not be renewed.
- David Adelman will coach team through remainder of season.
- Malone led Denver to the 2023 NBA championship.
- Nikola Jokic having historic season amid team struggles.
- Denver currently 47-32, fighting for home-court in Round 1.
- Kroenke says decision made to enhance title chances.
Deep Look
Denver Nuggets Stun NBA by Firing Coach Michael Malone Ahead of 2025 Playoffs
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the NBA, the Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone on Tuesday, just days before the end of the regular season and with the team poised for its seventh consecutive playoff appearance.
The timing is unprecedented. No playoff-bound team in modern NBA history has ever dismissed its head coach with only three games remaining in the regular season. The Nuggets, despite a recent four-game losing streak, remain firmly in the postseason mix, guaranteed at least a play-in berth and still battling for home-court advantage in the first round.
Joining Malone in his exit is General Manager Calvin Booth, who was informed that his contract would not be renewed. Denver announced that David Adelman, Malone’s lead assistant, will serve as interim head coach through the end of the season.
From Champions to Chaos
Malone’s dismissal is especially jarring given his success. He took over the Nuggets in 2015, helped develop the team into a Western Conference powerhouse, and guided them to their first NBA championship in franchise history in 2023. The Nuggets went 16-4 in the 2023 playoffs, culminating in a Finals victory that solidified Malone’s legacy in Denver.
Under Malone, Denver also made the Western Conference Finals in 2020, and reached the second round or further in six of seven postseason appearances. He exits the franchise as its winningest coach, with 471 regular-season wins, surpassing legendary coach Doug Moe.
Despite the resume, recent results have faltered. Denver’s current 47-32 record puts them in a tight race in the West, and their latest loss — a 125-120 defeat to Indiana — prompted Malone to take full responsibility.
“We’ve lost four in a row. I’ll start with me,” Malone said. “How about me, as a head coach, not doing my job to the best of my ability?”
Internal Pressure and Front Office Changes
Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, said the decision was made “with no pleasure,” but was necessary to “give our group the best chance” at competing for another title.
“While the timing is unfortunate… it is a necessary step to allow us to compete at the highest level,” Kroenke said in a statement. “Championship-level standards and expectations remain in place.”
That desire for immediate success may have prompted the front office overhaul. Booth, who had been with the franchise since 2017 and was promoted to GM in 2020, played a key role in assembling the roster that delivered Denver its long-awaited championship. He signed his latest contract in 2022 but will not return after this season.
Kroenke credited Booth for “putting the final pieces” together for Denver’s title run, but said the franchise was moving forward with new leadership on and off the court.
Four-Game Slide, Jokic’s Brilliance Not Enough
Denver’s decision comes amid an unexpected four-game skid, which has pushed the team out of a guaranteed top-four seed. Though Nikola Jokic — a three-time MVP and current frontrunner again — is averaging 30.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists, the team has struggled to close games and maintain defensive intensity down the stretch.
When asked after Sunday’s loss what concerns him most, Jokic responded simply:
“I don’t know. Maybe we just… I don’t know, actually.”
His uncertainty reflected a broader frustration around the team, one that perhaps sparked the leadership change.
A Rare Move in NBA History
Coaching changes this late in the season are nearly unheard of — especially for a contending team. The only similar case came in 1983, when Larry Brown left the New Jersey Nets with six games remaining to coach at the University of Kansas. More recently, the Brooklyn Nets replaced Kenny Atkinson with Jacque Vaughn late in the 2020 season, but that move came in the “bubble” environment and was not as abrupt.
The Memphis Grizzlies also made headlines recently by parting ways with coach Taylor Jenkins despite being on track for the play-in. But Denver’s move, with title ambitions and a healthy Jokic, stands in a league of its own.
David Adelman Steps In
David Adelman, son of longtime NBA coach Rick Adelman, will now guide the team through its final three games and into the playoffs. Adelman has been with Denver since 2017 and is well-regarded internally. He’s known for his calm demeanor and strong relationship with players, which could prove vital in navigating this crucial stretch.
Still, he inherits a team facing pressure to repeat last year’s historic success — now without its architect on the sidelines.
Around the League: Mixed Reactions
Reactions from around the league have ranged from shock to curiosity.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, commenting on the volatility of coaching roles in pro sports, tweeted:
“Winning a title and delivering consistent success isn’t enough anymore? What message does that send to coaches across all levels?”
Former coach Stan Van Gundy called the decision “insane,” adding on a podcast:
“You don’t throw out your championship coach days before the playoffs unless there’s something big behind the scenes.”
For now, the Nuggets are hoping a jolt in leadership can stabilize a team that still features championship-caliber talent.
What’s Next for Denver?
The Nuggets close out their regular season with road games against Sacramento, Utah, and San Antonio. They’ll enter the playoffs with questions swirling, even if they clinch home court.
For Malone, whose decade-long tenure brought unprecedented success to Denver, a new chapter awaits — and perhaps, a return to the sidelines elsewhere in the NBA won’t take long.
For now, the spotlight is on Adelman, Jokic, and a franchise that believes its best chance at repeating as champions begins by rewriting the script — with just three games left in the regular season.
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