Denver Nuggets' Michael Malone is the winningest head coach over the last five years in the NBA (252), yet with three games left until the playoffs, the organization made a shocking move by firing the 2023 NBA champion coach as well as the team's GM Calvin Booth.
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BREAKING: The Denver Nuggets have fired coach Michael Malone, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bZoKRx6kgt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025
Despite the Nuggets currently fighting for the No. 3 seed in the West, ESPN's Shams Charania pointed out that the team didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel for this season.
"They felt like the signs were there that this season was not going to end well."@ShamsCharania with more insight on the Nuggets firing head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth. pic.twitter.com/rlR6xdoX9E
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 8, 2025
Over the past three games, 3x MVP Nikola Jokic had been averaging 45 points, 12.3 rebounds, 10.7 assists, yet the Nuggets lost all 3 of those games.
All in all, the writing may have been on the wall, as Malone just two weeks ago went off against his own players in the postgame press conference after a loss to the Portland Trailblazers.
After a bad loss in Portland, Mike Malone called out Nuggets players for not watching film and said some players were “full of s—t” 😳
Less than a month later he’s out as the Nuggets HC 👀 pic.twitter.com/cVCfp3vPUr
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 8, 2025
“They'll say ‘coach is tripping’... Nobody watches their minutes, nobody watches film…”
- Mike Malone two weeks ago 😬
(h/t @pointfour__ )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 8, 2025
To note, Malone is not the only surprising lay off this year, as the playoff-contender Grizzlies just fired Taylor Jenkins last week.
Taylor Jenkins seeing Mike Malone walk into the unemployment office pic.twitter.com/wqHRqw8Ruj
— I Always Keep A Can Of Tuna On Me (@SnottieDrippen) April 8, 2025
Not to mention, when the Kings let go of Mike Brown in the middle of the season, Malone stuck up for his counterpart, saying the organization had "No class. No balls."
Michael Malone on the Sacramento Kings firing of Mike Brown:
“No class. No balls.”
— Jamal Cristopher (@JamCristopher) April 8, 2025
As for fans in Denver, they are simply bewildered by this decision.
One user on X wrote: "Yes, Denver has been struggling of late. But FIRING Mike Malone, who won you a title TWO years ago, had you one win from WCF last year... MAN!?!??! That's crazy. With SIX DAYS left in the regular season!"
Other fans noted that it doesn't make any sense, so something might have took place behind the scenes.
"Currently fighting for the 3 seed with the best player in the world. Something happened with Mike Malone behind closed doors. That's the only reasonable thought," another fan commented.
To point out, the Lakers fans may be the only ones celebrating this as Malone earned himself the nickname "Lakers Daddy," after bouncing them from the playoffs each of the last two seasons.
BREAKING: Mike Malone AKA the former “Lakers Daddy” has been FIRED
THE CURSE HAS BEEN LIFTED 🙌 pic.twitter.com/oExLCtscl3
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) April 8, 2025
Even though Malone is out as the head coach, a part of him will always be connected to the franchise, as he has a tattoo from the team's 2023 championship run.
Bro Mike Malone had a Nuggets tattoo and was just fired 😭 pic.twitter.com/S9gfa0E8KR
— Knicks Union 🗽 (@knicks_union) April 8, 2025
During his 10-year tenure with the Nuggets, Malone led them to six playoff births, two Conference Finals appearances, and a championship, while accumulating a 471-327 record (.590 win %).
Related: NBA Coaches Appalled By Sacramento Kings Firing Mike Brown: 'No Balls, No Class'
