The NBA world was shocked on Tuesday by the news that the Denver Nuggets were firing head coach Mike Malone as well as GM Calvin Booth. Denver is currently the fourth seed in the Western Conference with just three games remaining before the playoffs, so no one had expected them to fire their head coach now.
“While the timing of this decision is unfortunate, as Coach Malone helped build the foundation of our now championship-level program, it is a necessary step to allow us to compete at the highest level right now,” Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke stated.
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Malone helped lead the Nuggets to the 2023 NBA Championship, so both players and the media were blindsided by the move.
This league out of pocket man . WTH going on. Firing good coaches right before the playoffs is nasty work !
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) April 8, 2025
Seriously…. What is going on? Can someone explain to me how this makes sense right before the playoffs start when you are a top 4 seed https://t.co/HCRhFaO7kG
— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) April 8, 2025
Absolutely nuts. Booth and Malone never liked each other, rarely spoke, and talked behind each other's backs. With the team struggling on the court, Nuggets ownership decided to fire both. Insane. https://t.co/BUVS7grQWq
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 8, 2025
BREAKING: Denver Nuggets fire Mike Malone after 10 seasons
Two Western Conference playoff teams have now fired their head coaches in the final month of the season. Wild. https://t.co/OcS0PzBArQ
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) April 8, 2025
????
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) April 8, 2025
James Parker is an NBA writer for Ball Exclusives follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
