Firing a Championship Coach: What the Hell Are the Denver Nuggets Doing?

In a league where drama never sleeps, the Denver Nuggets just dropped a late-night bombshell that rocked the NBA to its core. According to reporting from Shams Charania, the Nuggets have officially parted ways with head coach Michael Malone — the very same man who guided them to their first-ever NBA title less than two years ago.

And if that wasn’t enough to make jaws drop, it gets better — or worse: General Manager Calvin Booth was also fired. Yep, the Nuggets just cleaned house with three games left in the regular season.

The timing? Shocking.
The decision? Polarizing.
The message? Loud and clear.

This isn’t just a coaching change. This is an organizational upheaval, and one that raises a very loud, very urgent question: What the hell is going on in Denver?

A Sudden, Violent Breakup

Michael Malone had become synonymous with Denver basketball. He took the reins in 2015, overseeing a complete rebuild centered around a doughy, baby-faced Serbian center who would later become Nikola Jokić, the franchise’s golden god.

In his ten-year tenure, Malone racked up:

• A 471-327 regular-season record (a franchise-best win total),

• A 56.4% win percentage,

• Six playoff appearances in eight years,

• A 2023 NBA championship,

• And a locker room culture built on toughness, accountability, and cohesion.

This wasn’t just a coach getting fired. This was the most successful coach in franchise history getting tossed with the paint still fresh on the championship banner.

To put the shock in context: reporters described the decision as "on par with trading Luka Dončić" in terms of shock value. If Malone isn't safe, no coach in the league is.

The Breaking Point: A Four-Game Losing Streak?

The immediate catalyst seems to have been a four-game losing streak — one where Jamal Murray was injured and the team was treading water. Denver dropped from the top seed to fourth in the West, but with Jokić healthy and the playoffs looming, no one in their right mind was pressing the panic button.

Yet, that’s apparently when ownership struck.

A growing chorus of fans online have pointed fingers at the infamous game against the Clippers, when Russell Westbrook denied Jokić a record-breaking triple-double and the Nuggets blew a winnable game. That loss seemed to deflate the squad, kicking off the losing streak that allegedly sealed Malone’s fate.

But let’s be real — one play from Russ isn’t enough to fire a head coach. This was deeper. This was political. This was personal.

Behind the Curtain: A Toxic Front Office Divide

Here’s where things get even juicier.

According to league sources, Malone and GM Calvin Booth had been at odds for months, if not years. The tension had reportedly reached a boiling point during the 2023 offseason. Malone wanted to run it back, especially to keep Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a key 3-and-D piece for their title defense. Booth, on the other hand, was more focused on slashing salary and developing younger players.

Result? A fractured front office.

Both men reportedly undermined each other behind closed doors, leaking frustrations and building rival camps. This wasn’t just a difference in basketball philosophy — it became a power struggle, and in the end, ownership pulled the plug on both.

The irony? Both men ended up losing. There were no survivors in this civil war.

The Owner Steps In: A Ruthless, Risky Move

Stan Kroenke — billionaire owner of the Nuggets — made the call. And he made it loud.

“While the timing is not ideal, this was a necessary step to keep our championship expectations intact,” Kroenke reportedly said to the team. “Coach Malone helped build the foundation of this era, and we honor his contributions. But now, we move forward.”

He added a message to players:
“Play hard. Have fun.”

Whether that’s inspiring or hilariously simplistic depends on your worldview. But what it definitely is? A signal that nobody’s safe — not even title-winning coaches and front office architects.

What Happens Now: The Adelman Era Begins

With Malone and Booth out, assistant coach David Adelman takes the reins as interim head coach. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it should — his father is Rick Adelman, former NBA coaching great and the man who once coached Yao Ming during the Houston Rockets’ glory days.

Now it’s up to the younger Adelman to steady a shaken ship with three regular-season games remaining against three tough opponents: the Rockets (with Sengun), Kings (Sabonis), and Warriors (Draymond).

Can he pull a Steve Kerr-esque midseason takeover and ride a wave of fresh energy into the postseason? That remains to be seen. But the margin for error is razor-thin.

Will Jokic Stay? Is Denver Still a Contender?

That’s the elephant in the room.

Malone wasn’t just a head coach — he was Jokić’s guy. Their bond was genuine, their respect mutual. Malone defended Jokić when media doubted him, built a system that revolved around his unique skillset, and consistently credited him as the team’s engine.

So, how does Jokić feel about this? We don’t know yet — but you’d have to imagine he’s at least surprised, if not outright blindsided.

Still, Jokić isn’t going anywhere — at least not yet. He’s under contract, at the peak of his powers, and likely to finish this season as a three-time MVP and one of the greatest players in league history. Even the most reckless owner wouldn’t dare shop him. (Right? Right???)

A Harsh Reality for Championship Coaches

Here's a brutal stat: with Malone’s firing, four of the last six championship coaches have been let go:

• Nick Nurse (2019) – gone.

• Frank Vogel (2020) – gone.

• Mike Budenholzer (2021) – gone.

• Michael Malone (2023) – gone.

Only Steve Kerr and Joe Mazzulla remain. Welcome to the NBA in 2025 — where even titles don’t buy job security. It’s no longer about what you’ve done; it’s about what you’ve done lately. And even then, that might not be enough.

What This Means for the Nuggets’ Identity

The Denver Nuggets were supposed to be the model of continuity and culture. They drafted their core. They developed them. They won with them. And they stuck with a coach for a full decade — a rare feat in today’s league.

Now, in one night, that narrative is gone.

If Malone and Booth were seen as voices pulling in different directions, this move could be seen as a cleansing — a reset. But at what cost? With the playoffs on the horizon and chemistry more fragile than ever, this is the ultimate high-wire act by ownership.

They didn’t just fire a coach.
They set fire to the era they built.

Final Take:

Michael Malone gave Denver identity, direction, and a damn banner.
And they gave him a pink slip and a pat on the back with three games left.

You can call it bold.
You can call it business.
But you can’t call it pretty.

The Nuggets better pray they know what they’re doing — because the rest of the NBA is watching, shaking their heads, and asking the same question:

“You just fired a championship coach… for this?”