Denver Nuggets: The Kroenke Reputation Is On The Line

When the Denver Nuggets let go of their former general management duo of Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman in the summer of 2010, it meant that owner Stan Kroenke’s son was due for a big raise and a big role in the organization.

Since Stan’s son Josh Kroenke was named team president (for both the Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche), the Nuggets experience has been like a million-dollar roller coaster.

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Less than two months into Josh’s new job, he had to face a trade demand from one of the best Nuggets ever in Carmelo Anthony, and the star forward was traded only a couple of months later. The Nuggets proceeded to defy all odds, and make the playoffs twice without Melo. They even posted a franchise best 57 wins in the 2012-13 season.

But the turmoil has been a constant with the younger Kroenke running the show, and even with two winning seasons right off the bat, the team has been through two general managers, three head coaches, a plethora of players and when this season concludes, Josh will have two consecutive losing seasons to go along with those winning ones.

Through it all, it’s clear the team president has maintained and utilized the power that comes with having the “final say” on basketball operations. Fans can see his touch on decisions the Nuggets have made. Even recently, when the Nuggets benched their three best players in Ty Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, and Kenneth Faried against the Memphis Grizzles last Monday, reports came out that it surely wasn’t head coach Melvin Hunt who made the call….

To be clear: #Nuggets Interim head coach Melvin Hunt & his staff aren't choosing to rest players. Nor are players asking to be rested.
— Chris Dempsey (@chrisadempsey) March 16, 2015

Josh’s “final say” has been a part of the bigger franchise decisions too. There were reports that the decision to fire former head coach Brian Shaw came directly from ownership, as the Colorado Springs Gazette reported, “The timing of this move suggests the decision came from above the pay grade of general manager Tim Connelly.”

So we have to ask! Josh, since you’re making the decision, what do you plan to do about interim head coach Melvin Hunt? Are you planning on letting the budding star walk free similar to the way you gave Masai Ujiri to the Toronto Raptors? Or, are you planning on rewarding coach Hunt, who is 6-3 (with one of those losses being the Memphis game you benched his best players for), and clearly has the players’ backing and the skill set required to lead a NBA team?

Chris Dempsey on 104.3FM saying he feels Nuggets FO wants big name coach, no matter what.
— Timmons (@NateTimmonsCSG) March 17, 2015

The Nuggets beat writer at Colorado’s largest newspaper has declared, to the public on the radio, that the Nuggets aren’t allowing the end of this season to be Melvin Hunt’s tryout, but rather that Hunt is simply a placeholder until they can do a full coaching search for a “big name coach” this offseason.

Given how well the last full coaching search went with Josh Kroenke at the helm, when the Nuggets hired Brian Shaw that is, the thought of letting Hunt go is crazy.

Melvin Hunt has the team firing on all cylinders, he has the fans excited again, and has the endorsement of his players. He’s a charismatic coach, and he’s learned a lot from George Karl, Brian Shaw, and Mike Brown. Yes, those three names don’t scream “SUCCESS” but Hunt’s been able to take the best from each, and the good from each of Hunt’s former bosses sounds a lot more like what the Nuggets need to get back to the playoffs.

While the Kroenke’s have owned the Denver Nuggets, the team has been to the playoffs far more than they haven’t. Since the younger Kroenke has taken over, though, the team hasn’t seen the same success. If Josh fails to hire Melvin Hunt as head coach, and Stan fails to override his decisions, it’ll leave Nuggets fans with little faith in the leadership the franchise’s owners provide.

Next: March Madness 2015: Top Plays From Day 1

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