In a surprising move, the Denver Nuggets have dismissed head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth just days before the end of the regular season. Assistant coach David Adelman has been appointed as the interim head coach.
Malone, who became the Nuggets’ head coach in 2015, led the team to its first NBA championship in 2023 and is the winningest coach in franchise history with a record of 471–327 over ten seasons. Despite this success, the team has recently experienced a downturn, losing four consecutive games and dropping to fourth place in the Western Conference.
Reports indicate that disagreements between Malone and Booth regarding player development strategies contributed to internal tensions. Booth advocated for increased playing time for younger players, while Malone preferred to rely on veteran players.
Nuggets vice chairman Josh Kroenke expressed gratitude for Malone and Booth’s contributions, stating that the decision was made to enhance the team’s competitiveness for the 2025 NBA Championship. He emphasized the organization’s commitment to maintaining championship-level standards and aspirations.
David Adelman, son of former NBA coach Rick Adelman, has been with the Nuggets as an assistant coach since 2017 and was part of the coaching staff during the 2023 championship run. He now steps in as interim head coach as the team prepares for the playoffs. The Nuggets have three regular-season games remaining:
