Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic On Head Coach Michael Malone’s Firing: ‘It Was A Heavy Day For Everyone’

The Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic revealed that he knew about the firing of former head coach Michael Malone before the decision was public.

“I knew a little bit before everybody,” Jokic said. “We made a decision, it was not a discussion.”

Before interim head coach David Adelman took over, Malone had been the only coach Jokic had in his NBA career.

“It was a 10-year relationship, so it was a heavy day for everybody,” Jokic said. “But I would say it’s part of the business.”

Reports of tension in the front office led to Malone being released, along with Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth. Frustrations were boiling over in the locker room as well. Players were visibly frustrated before, during and after games.