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[Saba Sports News] NBA fans were shocked when the Denver Nuggets abruptly fired head coach Michael Malone with just three games left in the regular season — and it appears Malone was just as blindsided.
The team announced on Tuesday that both Malone and GM Calvin Booth had been let go, despite the Nuggets sitting at 47-32 and preparing for a playoff run. Assistant coach David Adelman will step in as interim head coach for the postseason.
On the latest episode of Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed that Malone had a highly animated reaction when informed of his firing. Given his long tenure in Denver — dating back to 2015 — and his 471-327 record (the best in franchise history), the emotional response comes as little surprise.
What’s more telling is that no one within the organization appears to have strongly advocated for Malone to stay. While MVP Nikola Jokic reportedly wasn’t directly involved in the decision, tension had been brewing between him and Malone throughout the season.
Their strained relationship may have made it easier for the front office to justify moving on, even with the playoffs around the corner.