In a stunning turn of events, the Denver Nuggets have parted ways with head coach Michael Malone just days before the end of the regular season on Sunday and with the playoffs less than a week away. The shakeup doesn’t stop there, general manager Calvin Booth is also out the door, signaling a major reset for the franchise. Malone’s run with Denver was a golden era, leading the team to its first NBA championship in 2023 and leaving as the winningest coach in Nuggets history with a 471-327 record over a decade. He arrived in 2015 alongside Nikola Jokic and was instrumental in molding the Serbian big man into a three-time MVP.

The move blindsided fans and analysts alike, especially with the Western Conference standings still up for grabs. The Lakers sit in third place at 48-30, while the eighth-seeded Grizzlies are just two games back at 46-32. The Nuggets, stuck at 47-32, are reeling from four straight losses and a 3-7 skid over their last 10 games, despite Jokic’s jaw-dropping April stats of 45 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists per game.

What Might Have Led to Malone’s Exit?

Whispers are swirling about why Denver pulled the trigger on Malone, and while nothing is official, the timing makes it more shocking than Memphis’ recent release of Taylor Jenkins. Sure, the Nuggets’ four-game slide stings, but that alone doesn’t seem to explain it. Dig deeper, and Malone’s own words after recent losses paint a picture of brewing trouble. After a loss to the Warriors, he didn’t hold back, chastising his players for skipping film sessions and calling them out for not buying into his strategy-or caring enough to try-during this rough patch.

Then, after a 120-125 loss to the Pacers dropped them to their fourth straight defeat, Malone turned the lens on himself. “I’m going to start with me,” he told reporters. “We’ve lost four in a row, and I’m not pointing fingers. What about me as a coach not doing my job as well as I could?” That raw admission could indicate frustration or a rift with the team, though it’s all speculation at this point. What’s wilder? Malone’s not alone – four of the last six coaches to win the Finals have since been shown the door by their championship teams. The NBA is a pressure cooker, and even titles don’t guarantee job security.

Where This Leaves Malone and the Nuggets

Malone won’t be out of work long if he wants back in. His resume – building Jokic into a superstar, nabbing Denver’s first ring – makes him a hot commodity for teams looking for a proven leader next season. The real headache, though, is with the Nuggets. With just three games left before the postseason, they’re handing the reins to assistant David Adelman, a sharp offensive mind who’s been with the team since 2017. But filling Malone’s shoes this late? That’s a tall order. Denver has built its identity around Malone’s system, and pulling him out now could throw their playoff hopes into chaos. Jokic’s still a force, but the team’s recent funk – zero wins in April – suggests deeper issues that a mid-coaching change might not fix.

This gamble could go either way for Denver. A fresh voice could jolt the team out of its funk, but the risk is real: Without Malone’s steady hand, the Nuggets could stumble into the playoffs unprepared. For a team that has been a postseason regular under his watch, this feels like a roll of the dice with everything on the line. As the West remains a dogfight, every move counts.