Just ahead of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs, the Denver Nuggets made the decision to fire championship head coach Mike Malone, and since his departure he landed a gig on ESPN.
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Michael Malone on ESPN?!?! pic.twitter.com/2xeH7L5igs
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) May 21, 2025
That is, on his first day as a broadcaster, it didn't take long for Malone to get settled in before he shocked fans with his take on the MVP race. As many know it has been neck-and-neck all year between Nuggets' Nikola Jokic and Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
"[Shai] showed why he's the MVP."
Mike Malone, former coach of the Denver Nuggets, calls SGA the MVP 👀 pic.twitter.com/v8J4m4QOil
— Underdog (@Underdog) May 21, 2025
"[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander] he showed why he's the MVP," Malone said with the ESPN microphone in his hand.
While this isn't necessarily a controversial take, considering Malone was just let go by the Nuggets, many fans are speculating this was said out of spite.
"He HATES the Nuggets & Jokic now," one user said on X.
Another fan joked, "Mike Malone hopping on ESPN right after the team that fired him got booted from the playoffs is the level of petty we should all strive for lmao."
Mike Malone on an all time petty tour https://t.co/0pTg0Kthkr
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) May 21, 2025
Notably, back at the beginning of April, Malone stuck up for his star player Jokic when talking about why he deserved his fourth MVP award.
Mike Malone 2 months ago: “Jokic is the MVP”
Mike Malone tonight: “SGA is the MVP” 😭 pic.twitter.com/817bDNLMfW
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) May 21, 2025
With Malone "switching up," Nuggets fans didn't take this too well...
With all due respect to Mike Malone, the real MVP is the reason why you weren't a TV Analyst sooner.
I think he was trying to be professional and impartial but I think its a non genuine & bad look pic.twitter.com/s9TbMjoM3L
— Per Sources (@PerSources) May 21, 2025
That is to say, Malone also went out of his way to say the Nuggets' opponent in the Conference Semi-finals, Oklahoma City Thunder, had the best fans in the NBA.
Michael Malone said OKC just won a Game 7 in front of “The best fans in the NBA.” pic.twitter.com/hCD94ju5A8
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) May 21, 2025
Michael Malone calling the Thunder fans the “best fans in the NBA” stung a little more than I thought it would
— Rachel Vigil (@heyrachelvigil) May 21, 2025
Yet, Malone did give some credit to interim Nuggets coach David Adelman, as his former team took the No. 1 seeded Thunder seven games.
Mike Malone: "David Adelman did a hell of a job utilizing a zone defense" vs. OKC 👀 pic.twitter.com/BA15PnkWir
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) May 21, 2025
In view of the MVP race, Shai may currently be the front-runner after averaging 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game. Yet, one could easily make the case for Jokic to win his fourth MVP in five years, after putting up a triple-double average of 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game during the 2024-25 season.
Related: Fans Shocked As Nuggets Fire Championship Head Coach Mike Malone Right Before The Playoffs
