The Denver Nuggets have made a shocking move with just three games to go in the regular season.
The Nuggets have fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The move comes in the final week of the regular season, with Denver already locked into a playoff spot.
NBA reporter Chris Haynes added that top assistant David Adelman, the son of former NBA coach Rick Adelman, will take over for the remainder of the season. Presumably, he will also remain in charge for the team’s playoff run.
The Nuggets have lost four in a row but are still 47-32 and on their way to the playoffs. Entering play Tuesday, they are fourth in the Western Conference, making the move and timing even more shocking.
The decision is reminiscent of the Memphis Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins recently, but the Nuggets’ move is arguably even more shocking. The Nuggets are ahead of Memphis in the standings.
Beyond that, unlike Jenkins, Malone has won in Denver since taking over in 2015. At 471-327, he is the winningest coach in franchise history and won the NBA title with the team in 2023.
Interestingly, there were reports before the start of the season that Malone was not seeing eye-to-eye with the front office. Perhaps that issue has lingered, but it does not make the timing of the move any less stunning.
