Nuggets fire Michael Malone and end Calvin Booth’s era before playoffs

The Denver Nuggets stunned the basketball world by firing head coach Michael Malone and announcing they will not extend general manager Calvin Booth’s contract. The decision, made on Tuesday, April 8, comes with just three games left in the regular season. Currently holding a 47-32 record, the Nuggets are reeling from four straight losses and teetering on the edge of falling into the play-in tournament, a precarious spot for a team that hoisted the championship trophy in 2023, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

David Adelman, Malone’s lead assistant for eight seasons, steps in as interim head coach for the remainder of the campaign. Malone’s departure after a decade with the franchise, where he amassed 471 wins against 327 losses, closes a chapter defined by historic success but overshadowed by recent struggles. Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, framed the move as a tough but necessary step to keep the team in contention for the 2025 NBA title.

Meanwhile, Booth’s exit as GM, after steering the roster to a championship in his first season at the helm in 2022-23, signals a broader overhaul. This season has exposed cracks in the roster, with key veterans departing in prior years and a reliance on younger players like Christian Braun and Peyton Watson that hasn’t fully paid off. For Jokic, the league’s reigning MVP candidate, this marks a pivotal shift as he loses the only head coach he’s known in his decade-long career.

Shockwaves ripple through NBA with sudden firings

Michael Malone’s dismissal sent shockwaves across the league, adding his name to a growing list of championship-winning coaches cut loose shortly after their triumphs. Four of the last six NBA Finals-winning coaches—Nick Nurse (Raptors, 2018-19), Frank Vogel (Lakers, 2019-20), Mike Budenholzer (Bucks, 2020-21), and now Malone (Nuggets, 2022-23)—are no longer with the teams they led to glory. This trend underscores the relentless demand for instant results in the modern NBA.

David Adelman, tapped to lead the Nuggets through the season’s final stretch, brings a pedigree to the role. The son of former head coach Rick Adelman, he has spent eight years learning under Malone and earned interviews for head coaching jobs with the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers last summer. His immediate challenge is daunting: stabilize a team in freefall with little time to prepare for critical matchups against Western Conference rivals.

On the court, the emotional toll is palpable. Nikola Jokic, typically a stoic presence, has shown rare flashes of frustration on the bench during recent losses. The team’s 11-13 record since the All-Star break reflects a squad grappling with inconsistency, compounded by Jamal Murray’s absence due to a hamstring injury that has sidelined him for five games and counting.

Internal tensions fuel Nuggets’ crisis

Behind the scenes, friction between Malone and Booth had been simmering since the 2023 championship. Described as a “cold war” within the organization, their strained relationship stemmed from differing visions for the team’s future. Malone leaned on the proven core of Jokic, Murray, and Aaron Gordon, while Booth pushed a youth movement, prioritizing players like Braun and Watson over retaining veterans such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown, who left for bigger contracts elsewhere.

Booth’s tenure as GM began with a bang, taking over in 2020 after Tim Connelly’s departure to the Minnesota Timberwolves and delivering a title in his debut season. Yet, subsequent moves drew scrutiny. The 2024 draft pick DaRon Holmes II, sidelined by a torn Achilles, exemplifies the risks of Booth’s strategy that have yet to bear fruit. Defensive lapses have also plagued the team, with opponents averaging 117.1 points per game against Denver this season, one of the league’s worst marks.

These struggles weighed heavily in Kroenke’s decision-making. While Malone couldn’t halt the team’s slide, Booth’s roster decisions left gaps that eroded the championship foundation. The result: a clean break from both leaders as the Nuggets aim to recalibrate before the postseason.

Official statement underscores urgency

Josh Kroenke addressed the shakeup with candor in a team statement, emphasizing that the choice was deliberate and aimed at preserving the Nuggets’ championship aspirations for 2025. He acknowledged Malone’s role in building a title-contending program over ten years but stressed the need for immediate action to maintain elite standards. The timing, though unfortunate so late in the season, reflects the organization’s refusal to settle for mediocrity.

Regarding Booth, Kroenke praised his three-year stint as GM, particularly his work assembling the championship roster. Booth’s deep basketball knowledge and scouting acumen elevated the franchise, but his departure marks a shift toward fresh leadership. The statement expressed gratitude for his eight-year tenure, including his time as a player and executive, cementing his legacy as Denver’s first title-winning GM.

Adelman’s appointment as interim coach offers a bridge to the offseason, when the Nuggets will hunt for permanent replacements. With Jokic still in his prime, the franchise remains committed to building around its superstar, but the path forward hinges on resolving roster and strategic shortcomings.

Key moments from Malone’s Nuggets tenure

Michael Malone’s decade with Denver left an indelible mark on the franchise. Here are five defining highlights from his era:

• 2015-16 debut: Malone took over a struggling team and laid the groundwork for future success.
• Jokic’s rise: He nurtured Nikola Jokic from a raw talent into a three-time MVP and global superstar.
• 2023 championship: Malone guided the Nuggets to their first NBA title, defeating the Miami Heat in the Finals.
• Playoff streak: He delivered six consecutive postseason appearances, a franchise first.
• Wins record: His 471 victories made him the winningest coach in Nuggets history.

The Denver Nuggets have relieved Head Coach Michael Malone of his duties and will not extend General Manager Calvin Booth.

David Adelman will assume our head coaching role for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Full Release: https://t.co/d176KtKK5w pic.twitter.com/dMYlxIqoCl

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 8, 2025

Adelman faces immediate challenges

Stepping into Malone’s shoes, David Adelman inherits a team at a crossroads. With only three games left, he has scant time to rally the Nuggets and avoid a play-in fate. His first task is to lift a squad reeling from the coaching change, a group that has leaned heavily on Malone’s steady presence through thick and thin.

Jamal Murray’s lingering injury looms large. Without the star guard, Jokic has shouldered an outsized load, and Adelman must coax more from role players like Braun and Watson. Defensively, the team’s 117.1 points allowed per game demands urgent attention, a far cry from the stingy unit that clinched the 2023 title. The interim coach’s ability to tighten that end of the floor could determine Denver’s postseason ceiling.

The Western Conference standings add another layer of pressure. Sitting fourth but just half a game ahead of a crowded pack from fifth to eighth, the Nuggets risk slipping with any misstep. Adelman’s debut will test his readiness to lead under fire.

Jokic navigates uncharted waters

For Nikola Jokic, Malone’s exit is a seismic shift. Since entering the league in 2015, the Serbian center has thrived under Malone’s guidance, evolving into a triple-double machine and the cornerstone of a championship team. Their partnership peaked in 2023, but now, at 30 and a top contender for another MVP award, Jokic must adjust to new leadership midseason.

Jokic’s numbers remain dazzling, often flirting with triple-doubles, yet the team’s struggles highlight his lack of reliable support. Murray’s absence and the loss of veterans like Caldwell-Pope have left gaps that young players haven’t filled. Adelman, familiar with Jokic’s game from years as an assistant, will likely keep him as the offensive fulcrum, but the dynamic could shift under a permanent coach next season.

The transition poses tactical questions. Malone’s system amplified Jokic’s playmaking, casting him as a floor general. Whether Adelman can replicate that—or innovate—will shape Denver’s identity moving forward. For now, Jokic remains the steady hand in a storm of change.

Immediate impact on Western Conference standings

With the regular season winding down, the Nuggets’ upheaval could reshape the West. Three games remain, each against playoff-caliber foes vying for position. A single win or loss could vault Denver up to third or drop them into the play-in mix, where one-off games decide their fate.

The team’s current fourth-place perch is tenuous, with Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers within striking distance. The third-seeded Houston Rockets are also in reach, though Denver’s recent skid dims that hope. Adelman’s early results will dictate whether the Nuggets secure a direct playoff berth or face a do-or-die play-in scenario.

Jokic’s brilliance keeps postseason dreams alive, but Murray’s uncertain status and defensive woes cloud the outlook. A strong finish could restore confidence; a stumble might signal deeper issues as the playoffs loom.

Malone and Booth’s lasting legacy

When Michael Malone arrived in 2015, the Nuggets were a franchise adrift. He instilled discipline and belief, turning them into contenders. His crowning achievement—the 2023 title—etched his name in Denver lore, backed by a 471-327 record that rewrote the team’s history books. Malone’s exit, though abrupt, can’t erase a decade of progress.

Calvin Booth’s impact was shorter but no less significant. Taking the reins in 2020, he nailed his first season, assembling a championship puzzle around Jokic, Murray, and Gordon. Later missteps dulled his shine, but his role in ending Denver’s title drought ensures his place in the team’s pantheon. Together, Malone and Booth delivered a golden era, even if it proved fleeting.

Kroenke’s tributes to both men reflect their contributions while signaling a pivot. The Nuggets aren’t rebuilding—they’re reloading, banking on Jokic to anchor the next chapter. How that unfolds rests on the successors yet to be named.

What to expect in the final games

The Nuggets’ last three games are a crucible for Adelman and the roster. Facing playoff hopefuls in the West, each contest demands precision and resilience amid upheaval. Fans, spoiled by recent success, crave a surge to sidestep the play-in and reclaim contender status.

Here’s a snapshot of the closing slate:

• Game one: A clash with a direct rival for fourth place, a must-win to hold ground.
• Game two: A rising West team tests Denver’s shaky defense and Adelman’s adjustments.
• Game three: The season finale, potentially a playoff clincher or a play-in sentence.

Jokic’s dominance is a given, but the supporting cast must step up. Murray’s return, if it happens, could tilt the scales. For now, Adelman’s leadership faces its first crucible, with little margin for error.

Playoff prospects for 2025

Despite the turmoil, the Nuggets remain playoff-caliber. Jokic and Gordon form a formidable core, capable of challenging any foe. Yet, a slide into the play-in could pit them against juggernauts like the Oklahoma City Thunder or Houston Rockets early, testing their mettle.

Fixing the defense is paramount—117.1 points allowed won’t cut it in the postseason. Murray’s health is the X-factor; his return could rekindle Denver’s two-man game with Jokic and steady the offense. Adelman’s interim stint will set the tone, but the offseason hires will define the ceiling.

Fans cling to 2023’s triumph, and Jokic’s genius fuels optimism. Whether the Nuggets can harness that into another deep run depends on swift corrections and a unified front. The road to 2025 glory starts now.