The Denver Nuggets have fired the top coach the led the franchise to its first ever NBA championship solely two years in the past days earlier than the 2025 NBA Playoffs. In a surprising announcement, Michael Malone has been fired by Denver with solely three video games remaining within the common season. Denver was using a four-game shedding streak on the time of the firing.
Denver has additionally fired basic supervisor Calvin Sales space. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the information. The NBA remains to be making an attempt to make sense of it.
Full clear out: The Denver Nuggets are additionally firing basic supervisor Calvin Sales space, sources inform ESPN. Michael Malone and Sales space each out as we speak. pic.twitter.com/FvqOAFyOKy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025
David Adelman is the Nuggets’ new interim head coach.
Is firing a profitable head coach simply earlier than the playoffs the newest NBA development? Malone’s firing comes after the Memphis Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins late final month. Malone’s firing is much more surprising contemplating he’s gained an NBA championship with Denver.
Malone and Sales space had some variations of opinion over latest years, and now each are out. Sales space wished Malone to play and develop the youthful gamers he had drafted. Malone most well-liked veterans. Nobody may have seen this finish coming so shortly after Denver’s 2023 title run.
What is going to Nikola Jokic consider this? The famous person large man is within the working for his fourth NBA MVP award, and his profession has blossomed beneath Malone. Denver has been in a tailspin ever since Russell Westbrook hijacked Jokic’s 61-point triple-double in a latest loss to the Timberwolves. Westbrook has had a giant function within the rotation beneath Malone. Will that change beneath a brand new head coach?
Denver is combating for its life when it comes to Western Convention playoff seeding. We’ll replace this story because it develops.
