The Denver Nuggets’ decision to fire Michael Malone sent shockwaves through the NBA just days before the end of the regular season.
According to a detailed report by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Ramona Shelburne, the move had been under consideration for months amid growing internal dysfunction.
Malone, who had coached the team since 2015 and led them to the 2023 NBA championship, had lost his grip on the locker room, team sources told ESPN.
Denver had dropped four straight games, culminating in a 125-120 loss to the Pacers, their longest losing streak since March 2023.
After that game, Malone took accountability, telling reporters, “I’ll start with me,” but behind the scenes, team president Josh Kroenke had already been evaluating whether a change was necessary.
Kroenke’s concern went beyond the losing streak.
Multiple sources described a toxic atmosphere caused by a prolonged feud between Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.
Staff members were reportedly forced to choose sides, and internal trust eroded as the tension filtered down to the players.
Kroenke told the team Tuesday that change was essential for the organization to move forward.
According to ESPN, Nikola Jokic was the only player informed beforehand, having had a private discussion with Kroenke earlier that morning.
Jokic, who has maintained loyalty to the franchise throughout his career, accepted the news without resistance, saying, “He told me why. And so I listened. And I accepted it.”
Booth was also dismissed in the shakeup, with insiders explaining that removing both leaders was the only way to stop the factionalism that had gripped the franchise.
Booth had taken a different approach to team-building than Malone, prioritizing young, affordable talent like Christian Braun and Julian Strawther instead of re-signing veterans such as Bruce Brown and Jeff Green.
Malone favored experience and continuity, leading to disputes over player development and rotation decisions.
That disconnect played out publicly, including when Malone benched Braun in favor of Russell Westbrook, despite praising Braun’s performance.
Behind closed doors, players questioned if Booth’s draft picks were being penalized by Malone, and whether their own minutes were impacted by management politics.
Jokic never publicly criticized either side, but sources say he was aware of the growing dysfunction and its impact on team morale.
Kroenke reportedly considered firing both men at the All-Star break, but an eight-game win streak postponed any decision.
As the team regressed post-break, going just 12-13 since, Kroenke opted to act.
Now, with Malone and Booth gone, Denver is hoping to reset around Jokic and salvage what remains of a turbulent season.
The Serbian center is eligible to sign a three-year, $212 million extension this summer, and although he hasn’t expressed a desire to leave, any hesitation would be concerning for the franchise.
