DENVER NUGGETS owner Josh Kroenke addressed the shock dismissal of head coach Michael Malone ahead of the NBA playoffs.
The Nuggets fired Malone, 53, less than two full years after winning their first ever championship.
GettyDenver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke paid tribute to ex-head coach Michael Malone[/caption] GettyKroenke’s Nuggets fired Malone despite being close to NBA playoffs qualification[/caption]
Denver also dismissed general manager Calvin Booth, who had been with the franchise since 2017 and in the GM role since 2020.
These firings come amid a four-game losing streak but the the timing is still strange.
That is because the Nuggets sit fourth in the Western Conference and in an automatic playoff spot with just three games remaining.
However, Kroenke stated this is a “necessary step” for the team to remain competitive and that the standards of winning a title “remain in place for the current season”.
The club chief, who also owns Arsenal, paid tribute to Malone’s immense contribution across his record-breaking 10-year stint in Colorado.
Kroenke said: “It is with no pleasure that we announce that we have relieved Michael Malone of his head coaching duties, effectively [sic] immediately.
“This decision was not made lightly and was evaluated very carefully, and we do it only with 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.
“There is no amount of gratitude that we can properly convey to his contributions since [Malone] joined our franchise in 2015.
“It is with our utmost respect that we would like to thank Coach Malone for the most successful decade in Nuggets history, setting the all-time wins record and helping deliver Denver our first championship.”
Kroenke also praised Booth in his statement as he described him as an integral part behind the Nuggets’ NBA triumph back in 2023.
The statement continued: “I want to thank Calvin Booth for leading our front office for the past three years and most importantly for helping put the final pieces in place for the roster that delivered Denver and our fans their first NBA Championship.
“Calvin’s knowledge of the game, his passion for scouting, and his long history as a player and executive in the NBA helped lift our organization to new heights which we will continue moving forward.
“We are grateful to Calvin for his eight years with the Nuggets and know his place in Nuggets history as our first championship winning GM will be honored for years to come.”
The Nuggets’ lead assistant coach David Adelman will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season.
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