The Denver Nuggets abruptly parted ways with head coach Michael Malone on Tuesday, just weeks before the NBA Playoffs begin, in a move that stunned basketball fans and analysts. The franchise also announced it will not extend the contract of general manager Calvin Booth, marking a pivotal moment for the reigning 2023 NBA champions.
Assistant coach David Adelman will assume the interim head coaching role for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. The team emphasized the decision aimed to "give our group the best chance at competing for the 2025 NBA Championship," though it acknowledged Malone's transformative nine-year tenure. Under his leadership, the Nuggets secured their first NBA title and saw Nikola Jokic evolve from a second-round draft pick to a three-time MVP.
Malone's dismissal comes during a tense playoff race, with the Nuggets (47-32) locked in a five-team battle for Western Conference seeding. Team owner Josh Kroenke praised Malone's legacy, calling his decade-long run "the most successful in Nuggets history" while highlighting the challenge of maintaining championship momentum.
The front office now faces scrutiny over Booth's roster decisions, including Michael Porter Jr.'s $179 million extension, as Denver seeks to retain its status as a title contender.
