Will Michael Malone’s firing by the Denver Nuggets have far more lasting consequences than the franchise thought? In a decision that left even seasoned NBA insiders scratching their heads, the Nuggets parted ways with head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth earlier this week. While whispers around the league had long hinted at friction between the two, no one saw this kind of dramatic shake-up coming, especially with the postseason looming. Naturally, the Inside the NBA crew couldn’t help but dive into this sudden twist.
During one of the show’s recent segments, the crew tackled the topic head-on. Charles Barkley, never one to hold back, admitted that the news hit him out of the blue. After all, the Nuggets were still considered serious contenders in the championship race.
“From what I’m hearing, the owner, the owner did not want to pick a side because he said if I keep Mike, people going to think I chose him over Kevin or if I keep Calvin, let him go. From what I heard, he just said, hey, you know what, let’s just get rid of both of them,” Barkley explained, breaking down what he’d gathered about the situation.
If you’ve followed Denver’s recent front office moves, you’d know Booth played a significant role in reshaping the team through the draft. Names like Zeke Nnaji, RJ Hampton, Bones Hyland, Peyton Watson, Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett, Hunter Tyson, and DaRon Holmes II all came in during his run. Notably, he was also instrumental in drafting Michael Porter Jr., a key scorer for the championship team, and Christian Braun, a valuable two-way player off the bench.
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Shaquille O’Neal, however, intended to point out how the way things happened was a bit unprofessional against Michael Malone. Furthermore, he also offered a reality check that fans may agree with. “… They weren’t at full strength. Gordon has been out. Jamal Murray has been out. I would have liked to see them give him a little bit more respect. He did bring a championship to the organization,” Shaq said on the show.
And really, can anyone argue with that? Under Malone, the Nuggets didn’t just rack up a 471-327 regular season record and a solid 44-36 playoff performance—they won it all in 2023, toppling the Miami Heat to capture the franchise’s first NBA title. Letting go of the coach who led that charge? That’s not something you just brush off. And now, his departure has started to reflect some other changes that the Nuggets might undergo.
Yet another Nugget’s future with the franchise hangs in the balance post-Michael Malone firing
The Nuggets kicked off a new era on Wednesday night, taking down the Sacramento Kings 124-116 in their first game without Michael Malone. But while the scoreboard showed a win, not everything felt so settled. Especially when it came to Russell Westbrook. After joining the Nuggets mid-season, Westbrook found a vocal supporter in Michael Malone, who often praised his veteran leadership and playmaking ability off the bench, carving out a specific role for him within the team’s structure.
Westbrook played just 16 minutes in the game. If you were watching closely, you probably noticed he couldn’t quite find his rhythm, finishing with 5 points, 4 boards, 4 assists, and 3 turnovers. He struggled from the field, going 2-for-11 overall and missing all four of his attempts from beyond the arc.
It’s no secret that MiMalone was a big supporter of Westbrook. But now that the coach is out, so is the certainty around the veteran guard’s role. According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones and Sam Amick, interim coach David Adelman benched Westbrook late in the fourth, opting instead to close with rookie Jalen Pickett.
Though Westbrook has a $3.4 million player option for next season, league sources say his return to Denver is far from guaranteed. No wonder that Shaquille O’Neal and Co. on Inside the NBA seemed concerned for the Nuggets following their latest move. Beyond Westbrook’s immediate future, the simultaneous departure of both the coach and GM raises questions about team chemistry, the development of their younger players who were drafted by Booth, and the overall long-term vision for the franchise as they aim to capitalize on Nikola Jokic’s prime years.
The Denver Nuggets’ abrupt firing of their championship coach and GM is a high-stakes gamble that injects uncertainty into their contender status. Evidenced by Westbrook’s shifting role and potential draft changes, the “jolt” could either propel them or unravel their foundation. The long-term consequences of this shake-up on their chemistry and future vision remain a significant question mark.
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