In a Shocking Move: Denver Nuggets Fire Coach Michael Malone Amid Administrative Tensions Just Days Before Playoffs
In a shocking decision that rocked the NBA, the Denver Nuggets announced Tuesday the firing of head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth just three games before the end of the regular season and days before the playoffs begin.
The surprising decision came at a time when the Nuggets hold the fourth position in the Western Conference with a 47-32 record, but the team is currently on a four-game losing streak that threatens their position and brings them closer to the risk of falling into the play-in tournament.
Deep Disputes and Cold War
Sources revealed that tension between Malone and Booth had been escalating for a long time, reaching what sources described as a "cold war" within the club. The main disagreement was about the team-building philosophy, where Malone preferred to rely on veteran players, while Booth sought to develop young talents selected in the draft.
"There were certain trends that were very worrisome to me at different points in time, but they would get masked by a few wins here and there. In the world of professional sports, when winning and losing is your currency, winning can mask a lot of things."
— Josh Kroenke, Vice Chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment
Kroenke added: "I think there's more to the group than has been accomplished so far. How much more is in that group? I don't think that I know the answer to that, I don't think anyone knows the answer to that. But I think I have a belief that there's more in that group that can be accomplished and I look forward to seeing what they can do."
Battle Over Playing Time
Among the main points of contention between Malone and Booth was the issue of distributing playing time, especially regarding veteran star Russell Westbrook and young talents like Jalen Pickett. According to numerous reports, Booth wanted Malone to give more opportunities to the young players he selected in the draft, while Malone preferred to rely on experienced players.
One of the controversial points was about using Westbrook in the final minutes of games, where he was accused of making mistakes that cost the team some important games, including a match against the Minnesota Timberwolves last week, where Westbrook squandered a historic performance from Nikola Jokić who scored 61 points with a triple-double.
Jokić Loses the Only Coach in His Career
Malone's departure represents the end of an era for Serbian star Nikola Jokić, who has not known another coach in his NBA professional career. Malone took over coaching the Nuggets in 2015 and played a pivotal role in developing Jokić to become one of the best players in the world and a three-time league MVP.
Reports indicated that Jokić was frustrated with the team's declining defensive performance this season, with the team ranking 22nd in defensive rating. However, he was not notified in advance of the decision to fire Malone and was shocked like the rest of the players by this sudden decision.
David Adelman: The Interim Coach
The club announced the appointment of David Adelman, Malone's first assistant, as interim coach for the remainder of the season. The 43-year-old Adelman is the son of former coach Rick Adelman, and has worked with the Nuggets since 2017, primarily responsible for developing the team's offense centered around Jokić.
Adelman has garnered interest from several teams in recent years and interviewed with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers last summer for a head coaching position.
Jokić said about Adelman on a previous occasion: "I really think he's the guy who's going to be the next head coach because he has that head for a head coach. He is thinking in front, he knows answers, and he reads and reacts."
Team Decline After the All-Star Break
The Nuggets entered the All-Star break in second place in the Western Conference with a 37-19 record, but since then, the team has noticeably declined with a 10-14 record, with a drop in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Over the last 10 games, the team has achieved only 3 wins against 7 losses and is currently on a 4-game losing streak. In a crowded Western Conference where only two games separate the third and eighth seeds, Denver has dropped to fourth place and is at risk of participating in the play-in tournament.
Departure of Key Defenders
Since winning the championship in 2023, the team has lost important defensive elements such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown, who moved in previous transfer periods to secure larger contracts elsewhere.
Booth chose to reshape the team around young talents while saving money for the owners. However, most of his free agency signings have not succeeded, such as Zeke Nnaji who signed a four-year contract before the 2024 season and has only averaged 3.2 points and 10.3 minutes of play since then.
Achievements and History with the Team
Malone led the team for 10 seasons, achieving 471 wins against 327 losses, making him the coach with the most wins in Nuggets history. He led the team to 7 consecutive seasons in the playoffs, most notably winning the league title in 2023, the only title in the franchise's history.
After winning the title, Malone declared in the championship celebrations: "What a great day to celebrate a championship, but we're not done yet. We some greedy bastards, baby. We some greedy bastards. And we're getting another one."
But less than two years later, disagreements about how to pursue those "greedy" ambitions led to one of the most shocking firing decisions in league history.
Future Outlook
Adelman faces a difficult task in restoring stability to the team and pushing it far in the playoffs. With only three games remaining before the playoffs begin, he will need to adapt quickly and leverage the talents available in the team, most notably Jokić who is a candidate to win the MVP award for the fourth time in his career.
The main challenges lie in improving the team's defensive performance and finding the right balance between relying on veterans and young players, which is the same point that was the source of contention between Malone and Booth.
Amid these turbulent circumstances, the question remains: Will this sudden change motivate the players and give the team a new boost, or will it lead to more confusion at a critical time in the season?
The answer will become clear in the coming weeks, but what is certain is that this decision will mark a turning point in the history of the Denver Nuggets franchise.
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