Michael Malone Reportedly 'Was Not Calm' After Nuggets Informed Him of Firing
Michael Malone reportedly did not have a positive reaction after being informed of his shocking firing as head coach of the Denver Nuggets this week.
Speaking Friday on his Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast (beginning at the 36:50 mark), ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said: "It got out pretty quickly in the NBA that Michael Malone's reaction to being fired was not calm, which is not a surprise. I don't blame him."
The Nuggets sent shockwaves through the NBA on Tuesday when they simultaneously announced the firing of Malone and their intention to allow general manager Calvin Booth's contract to expire during the offseason.
At the time of Malone's firing, the Nuggets were 47-32, meaning they had only three games remaining on their regular-season schedule.
Denver was also positioned as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference when Malone was fired, which suggested they had a chance to make some noise in the playoffs.
The timing of the firing was surprising, as was the abrupt parting of ways with a coach who had enjoyed so much success with the franchise.
Over his 10 seasons as Nuggets head coach, Malone posted a 471-327 record, and he had the team poised for a seventh consecutive playoff appearance.
Malone is also less than two years removed from leading the Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship.
David Adelman replaced Malone on an interim basis and led Denver to a 124-116 win over the Sacramento Kings in his first game at the helm Wednesday.
The Nuggets now have just two regular-season games remaining against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday and Houston Rockets on Sunday.
At 48-32, the Nuggets are the No. 4 seed in the West, although they are tied with the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers and just one game ahead of the Golden State Warriors, Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves.
With three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić leading the way, the Nuggets will be a threat to go the distance come playoff time no matter where they end up being seeded.
It seems the Nuggets front office felt a coaching change would improve the chances of that happening, and while that could potentially be proved true, there is inherent risk involved with firing a coach who recently won a championship.
