DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 14: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots a free throw against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter of the NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on May 14, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan.(Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The Denver Nuggets made a shocking move on Tuesday, firing Head Coach Michael Malone and General Manager Calvin Booth. These firings came just two years after the Nuggets’ first NBA championship.
Malone is the winningest coach in Denver Nuggets history.
David Adelman will take over as the interim head coach. The Nuggets made this move with just three games left in the regular season and sitting tied for fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
Malone is the third head coach to be fired this season, joining former Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown and former Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. Booth is the first general manager to be fired this season.
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Since their firings, reports have arisen of disputes in the front office, especially between Malone and Booth. One of these disagreements was around how to use Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook. Reportedly, Booth was in favor of playing Denver’s younger guards, while Malone insisted on going with Westbrook.
Denver Nuggets Vice Chairman Josh Kroenke referred to his team as “joyless” over the past few games. While likely more factors went into the decision to fire Malone and Booth, this move will hope to push the Nuggets into a more positive direction.
With the firings of Malone and Booth have come questions about the future of the team, more specifically, the future of Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic.
Speculation about the three-time MVP award winner’s future and whether he wants to stay in Denver has grown.
For now, the Nuggets will look to end the regular season on a positive note and head into the playoffs with momentum.
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