Denver Nuggets Owner Explains Firing of Michael Malone…
In a surprising decision just ahead of the playoffs, Denver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke announced the dismissal of head coach Michael Malone, bringing an end to his decade-long run with the team. The move comes after recent struggles and a desire to reset the team’s championship ambitions.
With only three games left in the 2024–25 regular season, Kroenke stated:
“It’s never easy to make a decision like this. Coach Malone was instrumental in building our championship culture, but to give ourselves the best shot at another title, a change was necessary.”
Assistant coach David Adelman has been named interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Malone, who took over in 2015, led the franchise to its first NBA title in 2023 and leaves as the Nuggets’ all-time wins leader. Despite his success—including eight straight winning seasons and multiple deep playoff runs—the team’s recent decline couldn’t be ignored.
“Coach Malone’s impact on this franchise can’t be overstated,” Kroenke said. “He helped lay the foundation for sustained success, but we have to keep our standards high and adapt to compete at the highest level.”
Sources also reveal long-standing friction between Malone and GM Calvin Booth. The two reportedly had minimal direct communication and relied on intermediaries, creating tension that worsened as the team’s performance dipped.
Despite Malone’s recent dominance—his 252 wins over the past five seasons were the most of any NBA coach—Denver’s current season has been underwhelming. The Nuggets are 47–32 and have dropped to fourth in the Western Conference, with a chance of falling further.
The team’s defensive issues, roster depth problems, and questionable offseason decisions have all contributed to their slump. Key role players from the 2023 championship run—like Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope—were not retained, and replacements haven’t filled the void.
Their early playoff exit in 2024, where they blew a 20-point lead in Game 7 against the Timberwolves, exposed deeper flaws—especially in wing defense and bench scoring.
Now, the Nuggets face a critical moment. Can Adelman rally the team behind Nikola Jokic, who’s having another MVP-caliber season? Or is this the beginning of broader changes in Denver’s basketball operations?
One thing is certain: as long as Jokic is in his prime, the title window is still open. But the franchise is signaling that complacency is not an option—and Malone’s firing is proof.
