Three games into the 2024-25 NBA season, the Denver Nuggets were the most-talked-about team in the league for the management’s decision. The organization fired head coach Michael Malone, together with general manager Calvin Booth, before the end of the campaign. Malone was the team’s head coach since 2015 and led them to its first championship win in 2023.
This season, the Nuggets finished as the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record. The team captured its 50th win of the year on Sunday, against the Houston Rockets. The team had a final score of 126-111, with Nikola Jokic leading the team with 18 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
On the same day, Malone shared a heartfelt letter to the Denver Nuggets organization via the Denver Post.
“Ten years ago, I was presented with the incredible opportunity to be the Head Coach of the Denver Nuggets,” he wrote. “Little did I know the profound impact that would have on the next decade of my life.
Malone thanked the Kroenke family and the many coaches he’s had the pleasure of working with. The two-time NBA All-Star head coach expressed how much of an honor it was to work with them.
Michael Malone has a message for Nuggets fans in the Sunday @DenverPost pic.twitter.com/lsx6OE8AGT
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) April 13, 2025
“To Nuggets Nation, it has been my absolute pleasure to lead and fight for our team every night. To help bring Denver its first NBA Championship is an accomplishment that I will always cherish. I will be forever grateful for the unwavering love and support you showed me and my family.
“Denver is home, and being your coach has been my privilege. Thank you, all!”
Malone was with the franchise for 10 seasons and finished his stint with a 471-327 record.
4x champion gave his take on Russell Westbrook’s criticism for the firing of the Denver Nuggets head coach
After Malone was fired, veteran point guard Russell Westbrook received criticism and many believe he was the reason for the firing of the Denver Nuggets coach. However, four-time champion and Golden State Warriors star forward Draymond Green want the negative talk about Westbrook to stop.
“You know another thing I heard that bothered me? People trying to put it on Russell Westbrook. Stop it…Russell Westbrook makes $3 million this year. You’re going to tell me anything to do with a coach is the man that makes three?…If Russell Westbrook’s a problem at $3 million—they pay him, they can send him home. Pay him and say, ‘Go home, we don’t even want you around here.’ To try to make this about Russell Westbrook is insane to me,” Green said .
Green started to talk about the situation at the 17:21 mark.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
