Key Points Summary: Nuggets Fire Coach Malone
- Denver Nuggets fire head coach Michael Malone with just days left in the regular season
- Malone led the team to the 2023 NBA title and eight straight winning seasons
- GM Calvin Booth also out as the franchise makes sweeping changes
- David Adelman named interim coach as Denver fights for playoff positioning
- Nuggets on four-game losing streak, slipping in Western Conference standings
- Nikola Jokic having MVP-level season, but team performance falters
- Kroenke Sports says move made to boost title hopes—but fans and players are stunned
In a jaw-dropping and deeply confusing move, the Denver Nuggets have fired head coach Michael Malone, the man who led them to their first-ever NBA championship just one year ago. And it happened just days before the 2025 NBA Playoffs are set to begin.
This isn’t just surprising. It’s downright shocking. The Nuggets fire Malone while in the middle of a playoff race and on the heels of a historic title run. The decision has left players stunned, fans furious, and NBA insiders scratching their heads.
Adding even more fuel to the fire, the team also announced that general manager Calvin Booth is out. He won’t be returning after this season. The chaos at the top of the franchise couldn’t come at a worse time.
Why Now? Why Nuggets Fire Coach Malone?
Malone has been a staple in Denver for a decade. He’s helped build the franchise into a Western Conference powerhouse. He’s the winningest coach in team history, posting 471 victories and leading the team to eight straight winning seasons and seven playoff appearances.
And yet, with just three regular-season games remaining, the Nuggets pulled the plug.
Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, said the decision was made with “no pleasure” and described it as a necessary move to give the team a better shot at defending its championship.
“This was not taken lightly,” Kroenke said in a statement. “But we’re making this decision now because we believe it’s our best chance at bringing another title to Denver—this season.”
The Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
The Nuggets are currently 47-32 and locked in a tight battle for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They’ve lost four straight games, including a 125-120 defeat to the Indiana Pacers that saw Malone openly question his own coaching.
“How about me, as a head coach, not doing my job to the best of my ability?” Malone said after the game.
But few expected that self-reflection to result in his dismissal.
The timing is drawing comparisons to Memphis’ shocking decision last month to part ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins just before their own playoff run.
Nikola Jokic Left Speechless
Nuggets star and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is having another incredible season, averaging 30 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game. But even that hasn’t been enough to prevent the team’s recent slide—or to save Malone’s job.
After Sunday’s loss to the Pacers, Jokic was asked what the team needed to fix. His response?
“I don’t know. Maybe we just… I don’t know, actually.”
The body language spoke volumes. Jokic, the heartbeat of the team, seemed puzzled and frustrated. Now he’ll have to adjust to a new coach just days before the playoffs begin.
Meet the New Guy: David Adelman Takes Over
Assistant coach David Adelman has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season. He’s been with the team for several years and is highly respected inside the organization.
But leading a team with championship aspirations into the playoffs? That’s a tall order for any coach, let alone one who’s never held the top job.
The pressure is immense, and the timing is brutal.
GM Calvin Booth Also Shown the Door
In a rare double firing, the Nuggets also announced that general manager Calvin Booth’s contract will not be renewed.
Booth joined the Nuggets in 2017 and was promoted to GM in 2020. He played a key role in building the roster that won the 2023 championship.
“Calvin helped put the final pieces in place for our championship roster,” Kroenke said. “We’re grateful for his contributions.”
But just like Malone, Booth is now out—and the front office is undergoing a massive shakeup as the playoffs loom.
Fans Stunned, Players Rattled
The response has been immediate—and emotional.
Denver fans have flooded social media with confusion and outrage. How could the Nuggets fire the coach who just brought the city its first title? And why now, with the playoffs just days away?
Even veteran NBA analysts caught off guard.
“This is wild,” one ESPN commentator said live on air. “You just don’t fire a championship coach a week before the postseason unless something serious is going on behind the scenes.”
Players, too, reportedly rattled. Sources say the locker room shocked to learn of the firing, with several stars expressing disbelief.
A Legacy Cut Short
Malone’s tenure in Denver remembered as one of the most successful in franchise history.
- Hired in 2015
- Led team to seven playoff appearances
- Guided them to the 2023 NBA Championship
- Won 471 games—a franchise record
- Developed stars like Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr.
This wasn’t just a coach. This was the architect of Denver’s basketball renaissance.
Kroenke Says It’s About Championships—Now
Despite Malone’s track record, the front office insists the move is about winning now.
“Championship standards demand difficult decisions,” Kroenke said. “We thank Coach Malone for his decade of service and for bringing a title to Denver.”
Still, fans left wondering: Why not wait three more games? Why not finish the season first?
There are no easy answers.
What’s Next for Denver?
The Nuggets have three regular-season games left, starting with a tough matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.
They’ve clinched a play-in spot at worst but are still battling for home court in the first round.
Adelman will take over immediately, and the team is hoping a “shock to the system” might jolt them out of their losing streak.
But whether this bold move pays off—or backfires—remains seen.
Nuggets Fire Malone and Roll the Dice Before Playoffs
The Nuggets fire Malone, their title-winning, franchise-record-holding, player-developing head coach—just before the postseason.
It’s one of the most stunning moves in recent NBA memory, and the entire basketball world is watching to see what happens next.
Will the Nuggets rise under new leadership? Or will this decision go down as the moment Denver’s season unraveled?
The playoffs are coming. The stakes have never been higher. And the pressure is officially on.
