With only 3 games remaining in the regular season, the Denver Nuggets have fired head coach Michael Malone, while also announcing that they will not be extending the contract of GM Calvin Booth.
The shocking decision comes on the heels of yet another loss, as Denver has now dropped 4 straight contests and 7 of their last 10. With only 1 win separating 4th place from 8th place in the ultra competitive Western Conference, the Nuggets are currently at risk of falling into the play-in tournament.
“This decision was not made lightly,” Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, said in a team statement. “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.”
“I want to thank Calvin Booth for leading our front office for the past three years,” Kroenke continued. “And most importantly for helping put the final pieces in place for the roster that delivered Denver and our fans their first NBA Championship. Calvin’s knowledge of the game, his passion for scouting, and his long history as a player and executive in the NBA helped lift our organization to new heights which we will continue moving forward. We are grateful to Calvin for his eight years with the Nuggets and know his place in Nuggets history as our first championship winning GM will be honored for years to come.”
“There is no amount of gratitude that we can properly convey to his contributions since he joined our franchise in 2015,” Kroenke said of Malone. “It is with our utmost respect that we would like to thank Coach Malone for the most successful decade in Nuggets history, setting the all-time wins record and helping deliver Denver our first championship.”
David Adelman, the team’s lead assistant will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Malone departs the franchise having helped bring the only championship in club history to the Mile High City, and sporting a 471-327 record during his time in Denver.
Malone becomes the 4th head coach of the previous 6 NBA champions to be fired by his former team joining Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel, and Mike Budenholzer.
Adelman and the Nuggets have dates with the Kings, Grizzlies, and Rockets remaining before the postseason begins play.
Photo: Grunn050. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.