NBA fans were stunned when the Denver Nuggets fired Michael Malone with just three games remaining in the regular season, and it does not sound like the former head coach saw the move coming, either.
The Nuggets announced on Tuesday that they had fired both Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. The change came at a time when Denver was 47-32 and headed to the postseason. It will now be up to interim coach David Adelman to lead the team in the playoffs.
Brian Windhorst discussed Malone’s firing during the latest episode of the ESPN reporter’s “Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective” podcast, which was released on Friday. Windhorst indicated that Malone was very animated when informed of his dismissal.
“It got out pretty quickly in the NBA that Michael Malone’s reaction to being fired was not calm, which is not a surprise,” Windhorst said, via Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report. “I don’t blame him.”
Malone led Denver to an NBA title two seasons ago. He must have had an idea that he was on the hot seat, but he may have expected to at least be given an opportunity to chase another championship. The Nuggets chose not to wait.
Malone had been the head coach in Denver since 2015. He finished with a record of 471-327, which makes him the winningest coach in franchise history.
At the very least, it does not sound like anyone that matters went to bat for Malone. Nikola Jokic may not have had a direct hand in the decision, but the reigning MVP has been openly frustrated this season. Jokic and Malone were reportedly not seeing eye-to-eye, which probably made it even more difficult to justify keeping the coach through the end of the season.
