On Tuesday afternoon, the Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth, according to Shams Charania. Assistant coach David Adelman has been named the interim head coach.
BREAKING: The Denver Nuggets have fired coach Michael Malone, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bZoKRx6kgt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025
Through 10 seasons with the Nuggets, Malone was the winningest coach in franchise history and led the team to it's first NBA championship in 2023. With a 471-327 record that built the Nuggets from the ground up, Malone is regarded as one of the most respected coaches across the league.
The Nuggets shockingly fire coach Mike Malone and GM Calvin Booth
Calvin Booth, the Nuggets' general manager since 2020, did not have as impressive of a track record; however, he was instrumental in the acquisition of Aaron Gordon in 2021 and drafting Christian Braun the following season.
Interestingly, Kevin O'Connor reported that there was a significant rift between Malone and Booth over the years, seemingly sparking the Denver ownership's decision:
Absolutely nuts. Booth and Malone never liked each other, rarely spoke, and talked behind each other's backs. With the team struggling on the court, Nuggets ownership decided to fire both. Insane. https://t.co/BUVS7grQWq
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 8, 2025
The decision comes amid a four-game losing streak that put Denver's struggling defense and bench production in the spotlight. With a very tight Western Conference, Denver's 47-32 record leaves them in a precarious position that could end in the fourth seed or the play-in tournament.
Despite a underwhelming season, the move is still a massive shock. With perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic leading the team, a respectable supporting cast, and a stable coaching situation, the Nuggets had everything they needed to make a deep playoff run in the coming weeks.
This move indicates lots of uncertainty about the Nuggets' future. Firing Malone and Booth seems to be the first step in dramatically retooling the supporting cast around Nikola Jokic.
With Denvers' final two matchups being against the Grizzlies and Rockets, the Nuggets cannot afford to drop more games. The Nuggets will face the challenge of adjusting to new leadership as they try to secure favorable playoff seeding. Only time will tell how the rest of the Nuggets' season will play out.