In an uncharacteristic move, we see another playoff-bound NBA team firing their head coach just days before the playoffs. This time, in a surprising decision, Michael Malone was fired by the Denver Nuggets. First reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, assistant coach David Adelman has been promoted in his place.
It was announced ten minutes later that General Manager Calvin Booth would also be relieved of his duties. Malone finishes with 471 wins and 327 losses after ten seasons. Firing Malone with five games left in the season is a shocking decision and marks the latest firing of a head coach of a playoff-bound NBA team in over 45 years.
Currently sitting with a 47-23 record, the Nuggets are vying to win another NBA title after reaching the promised land two seasons ago. Malone’s firing suggests that there is an internal issue that may be revealed soon. However, what the team now must figure out is how to adjust and prepare for the playoffs without Malone for the first time in a decade.
Denver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke released a statement following today’s moves:
“It is with no pleasure that we announce we have relieved Michael Malone of his head coaching duties, effective immediately. David Adelman will assume our head coaching role for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
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.”
Letting go of the winningest coach in your organization just five games before the playoffs is highly unorthodox and feels like a slap in the face. It will be interesting to see what comes out of Denver this weekend following this abrupt firing.
