DENVER, Colorado — Just days to the playoffs, the Denver Nuggets don remove head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth for shocking reasons. Team president Josh Kroenke break the news on Tuesday morning, sources wey sabi the gist talk say dem no fit expose their identities.
Dis decision come after a long four-game losing streak, leaving Denver struggling to secure their seventh consecutive playoff spot. Kroenke and him papa, Stan Kroenke, get plans to make changes since last week, but dem quicken am with the poor performances.
Malone, wey dey 53 years old, na the fourth-longest tenured coach for NBA and him don achieve the highest wins in Nuggets history, with a record of 471-324 over 10 years. He don lead the team to 44 playoff wins and na the only coach wey Nikola Jokic don dey play for. Now, lead assistant coach David Adelman go take over as the interim coach until the end of the season.
“Dis decision no be easy and we reason am very well,” Josh Kroenke explain for statement. “We do am to give our team the best chance to compete for the NBA championship dis year.” Jokic no run to owners for changes, but he sabi about the firings before dem happen. His agent, Misko Raznatovic, come visit from Serbia last week.
Calvin Booth, wey dey 48 years old, no renew contract wey dey expire for dis season. Him don dey for Denver front office since 2017 and he now dey replace Arturas Karnisovas. He build the roster wey bring championship in 2023, but sources wey talk to The Post mention say him and Malone no dey agree for the future direction of the team.
Dis disagreement no dey small as it lead to tension wey make some players lose confidence for Malone’s coaching style. As recent as last week, Malone talk say “nobody dey watch film” for the team after dem lose again, showing him frustration towards the players.
Booth wan make Malone focus on young players like 2023 second-round pick Jalen Pickett, especially when starting point guard Jamal Murray dey injured. But Malone prefer to use veterans to maintain winning, a strategy wey dey frustrate the front office.
After the firing, many NBA analysts and reporters express shock. Michael Pina from The Ringer talk say dis decision no fit make sense at dis time, with playoffs just a few days away. Troy Renck also write say Malone suppose get better exit considering all wey him don achieve for the franchise.
Now, after dis upheaval, the team dey look for new leadership. Kroenke don talk say dem go begin search for permanent replacements for both positions after the season. The organization no announce any acting general manager yet, but Tommy Balcetis, who na Booth’s assistant, dey remain in the position.
Michael Malone’s coaching tenure dey over, but his record for 10 years for Denver na one wey no go fit forget easily. For him time, he achieve 471 regular-season wins, 44 playoff wins, and guide the team to the franchise’s first NBA title in 2023.
