- The Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone with just three games to go before the NBA playoffs. The Nuggets sit in fourth place in the Western Conference.
- The team has been going through a rough stretch, losing four straight games and 7 of their last 10.
- Malone was in his 10th season and led the Nuggets to the championship just two seasons ago. He is the winningest head coach in franchise history with a 471-327 record.
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The Denver Nuggets fired coach Micheal Malone on Tuesday, April 8, just three games before the NBA playoffs begin. Malone and the Nuggets are just two years removed from winning the championship.
It’s a move that stunned the league and fans, especially given the timing. But maybe not Malone. Sunday, April 6, after the Nuggets lost their fourth straight game, he assessed his performance.
“I’ll start with me, you know, we’ve lost four games in a row and I’m never going to, this guy, that guy, how about me as a head coach you know, not doing my job to the best of my ability,” Malone said.
General Manager Calvin Booth was also told his contract would not be renewed.
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A full house cleaning of a perennial contender just before the playoffs is unheard of. According to ESPN research, this move is tied for the latest coaching change in NBA history. Hubie Brown was fired with three games left in 1981, though his Atlanta Hawks had a losing record.
Why are the Nuggets struggling lately?
Malone is the winningest coach in franchise history, with 471 wins and 327 losses in 10 seasons. During this rough patch, he was dealing with injuries to stars like Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Not only have they lost four straight game, but also but 7 of their last 10. The main culprit is defense. After being in the top 10 earlier this season they are now in the bottom third of the league rankings.
“I don’t even know what it is right now maybe like mid 20s?” Malone said Sunday. “And that’s a severe drop-off, and you just can’t rely upon your offense to outscore teams. I mean, think about it, tonight (vs Indiana), 33 assists, only 13 turnovers, scored 120 points, had 76 in the paint, had 15 on the break, and we lose because our defense wasn’t able to give us the stops.”
Where is the team in the playoff race?
Those defensive lapses have caused the Nuggets to slide in the standings from second a couple of weeks ago to currently flirting with the play-in round. Four teams are just a half-game behind the Nuggets for the fourth spot.
The top six in each conference avoid the play-in tournament. Malone was hoping his team would turn it around in the final three games of the regular season.
“Sacramento, Memphis, Houston, no one’s going to feel sorry for us, and so we put ourselves in this hole, and we only have ourselves to pull ourselves out of it.” Malone said.
That task falls now upon three-time league MVP Nikola Jokic, who will continue without the only coach he’s had in the NBA. The Nuggets have named David Adelman, Malone’s top assistant, as the interim head coach.
What was the reason given by team ownership?
Team ownership released a statement Tuesday, April 8, praising Malone for his contributions to the team.
“This decision was not made lightly. And was evaluated very carefully, and we do it only with the intention of giving our group the best chance at competing for the 2025 NBA Championship and delivering another title to Denver and our fans everywhere. While the timing of this decision is unfortunate, as Coach Malone helped build the foundation of our now championship-level program, it is a necessary step to allow us to compete at the highest level right now. Championship-level standards and expectations remain in place for the current season, and as we look to the future, we look forward to building on the foundations laid by Coach Malone over his record-breaking 10-year career in Denver.”
Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.
The Nuggets next game is Wednesday, April 9, in Sacramento.
