Did the Nuggets Throw Away Their Title Hopes by Cleaning House Mid-Season?

BREAKING: The Denver Nuggets have fired coach Michael Malone, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bZoKRx6kgt

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025

Josh Kroenke, a rep for the team’s owners, said the decision follows the intention of “giving our group the best chance at competing for the 2025 NBA championship and delivering another title to Denver and our fans everywhere.”

While Malone’s news caused shockwaves around the league, the Nuggets doubled down on their intentions of cleaning house before the playoffs, also firing general manager Calvin Booth the same day.

Full clean out: The Denver Nuggets are also firing general manager Calvin Booth, sources tell ESPN. Michael Malone and Booth both out today. pic.twitter.com/FvqOAFyOKy

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025

Just ten days before the start of the playoffs, and with the Nuggets slated at 5th place in the Western Conference NBA standings, giving them home-court advantage for the first round of the postseason, what’s next for Denver, who will now be coached interimly by David Adelman?

Sorry, Nuggets, but Seriously, WTF?

If you’re expecting me to sugarcoat the sh*t show that went down in Denver yesterday, don’t keep your hopes up.

Sorry, but Malone and Booth’s firing a few days before the start of the playoffs, and with the Nuggets currently at 47-32, even amidst their recent four-game losing streak, makes no sense to me.

Yes, NBA rumors were quick to pick up on Malone calling out his players following a March 21 129-108 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers.

After a bad loss in Portland, Mike Malone called out Nuggets players for not watching film and said some players were “full of s—t” 😳

Less than a month later he’s out as the Nuggets HC 👀 pic.twitter.com/cVCfp3vPUr

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 8, 2025

But looking back at his statements, while incendiary, they weren’t meant as a direct attack on anybody; it was just a coach letting out his frustrations on what he saw on the court and the importance of what was to come for the team.

So why did the Nuggets, NBA picks and predictions darlings, pull the plug on their HC and GM? Furthermore, did the team’s star, Nikola Jokic, have something to do with it?

According to a few people within the organization, he did.

The Denver Nuggets have fired championship-winning coach Michael Malone.

“I think they went, based on what I’ve been told, to Jokic… and he signed off on it. His message – Malone’s – had become stale with the players,” says @woodypaige. pic.twitter.com/5hlwlxgq5G

— Around the Horn (@AroundtheHorn) April 8, 2025

I get that Jokic stands as the team’s leader and foundational block, with most of the team’s NBA scores highlighting his numbers day in and day out. There’s a reason why he’s been considered by everybody as a favorite to win MVP, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

But was the situation seriously so broken that there was no solution other than cleaning house with the playoffs right around the corner?

“They felt like the signs were there that this season was not going to end well.”@ShamsCharania with more insight on the Nuggets firing head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth. pic.twitter.com/rlR6xdoX9E

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 8, 2025

I’m calling BS on this whole decision, and now, once the Nuggets get knocked out of the playoffs, it will be a kick to see what excuse they come up with to justify their exit while Malone hits the job market and probably gets picked up instantly.

What’s Next for Denver?

As the Nuggets get ready to face the Sacramento Kings tonight, their first game without Malone at the helm, what guarantee is there for a win to come? With the Warriors, Grizzlies, and Timberwolves all nipping at Denver’s heels for that fifth spot, what if the team falls to five straight losses?

And what if everything continues spiraling down until Jokic decides he wants out?

“Denver is not serious… I just don’t get it, I wouldn’t be shocked if [Nikola Jokic] demands a trade this summer.”

Paul Pierce on the Nuggets firing Michael Malone 👀

(via @SpeakOnFS1)pic.twitter.com/0IKR2NeIeR

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 8, 2025

Maybe, just maybe, getting rid of Malone was not the best move to go with so late in the season. For now, time will tell us who was right and wrong here.