NBA Fans Floored by Michael Malone's Nuggets Firing Days Before 2025 NBA Playoffs

In a season full of surprising moments, another one was added to the list on Tuesday when the Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone.

The Nuggets, who are ranked fourth in the Western Conference at 47-32 with less than a week before the regular season ends, announced that lead assistant David Adelman will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign. The team also announced that general manager Calvin Booth will not have his contract extended after it expires this year.

While Denver is currently riding a four-game losing streak, the team was viewed as one of the top contenders in the West. Firing Malone just a few days before the start of the playoffs raises significant questions about the behind-the-scenes turmoil within the franchise.

It was just two years ago that Malone led the Nuggets to their first NBA championship. He ends his tenure as the winningest coach in franchise history with a record of 471-327.

Fans on social media were understandably blown away by the Nuggets' decision to fire Malone this late in the season:

Malone joins former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins in getting fired in the midst of this season's playoff race. In addition to shocking trades involving players, it's clear that coaches are never completely safe, either.

If there's one thing we've learned throughout the 2024-25 season, it's to expect the unexpected. Malone is now one of the most coveted head coaching candidates on the market heading into this summer.