NEW ORLEANS — The Denver Nuggets faced the New Orleans Pelicans in their NBA Cup opener on Friday night without their standout center, Nikola Jokic, and head coach, Mike Malone.
Jokic was absent from the game due to personal matters, while Malone chose to remain in Denver to support his daughter, Bridget, during her high school volleyball playoff match.
In Malone’s absence, lead assistant David Adelman stepped in as acting head coach. He acknowledged that the biggest challenge of taking over the role was not having Jokic available for the game.
Adelman mentioned that the duration of Jokic’s absence is uncertain, noting, “It’s personal reasons for him. It’s things at home. For some people, that’s their business. When he feels like he’s ready to return, he’ll come back.”
The Nuggets last played on Sunday, where Jokic delivered an impressive performance, recording 37 points, 18 rebounds, and 15 assists in a thrilling 122-120 win against the Dallas Mavericks.
In light of Malone’s absence, Adelman expressed his hope that the head coach was fully focused on his daughter’s match, rather than trying to keep up with the NBA game on his phone.
“He’s watching his daughter play — that’s really cool,” Adelman remarked. “As a coach’s son (his father is former NBA coach Rick Adelman), I understand the balancing act. There are moments you miss as a dad, so it’s fantastic that he can be there for her.”
Bridget Malone is set to continue her volleyball career at the University of North Carolina.
