Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images

Carmelo Anthony Rips Denver Nuggets Over Coaching & Front Office Firings

Originally posted on Viral Sports News | By Jake Rogers | Last updated Apr 9, 2025 6:02 PM ET

Former Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony didn’t hold back when addressing the organization’s stunning decision to fire head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth just ahead of the NBA playoffs.

Appearing on 7 PM in Brooklyn, a Wave Original, Anthony criticized the timing of the move, suggesting that dismissing both Malone and Booth with only three games remaining in the regular season sends the wrong message to the locker room.

“Y’all looking at this as a wash,” Anthony said. “They’re already believing we can’t do nothing internally.”

The sudden firings of Malone and Booth, both of whom played key roles in helping Denver become a perennial playoff team and 2023 NBA champion, have left many around the league puzzled. Anthony, a six-time All-Star in Denver, questioned why star center Nikola Jokić didn’t step in if he had a strong relationship with Malone.

“If [their relationship] was that good, Jokić should’ve said this is bullsh–,” Anthony added.

The firings come amid a four-game losing streak for the Nuggets, who currently rank ninth in net rating and sit third in the Western Conference standings. While they remain a championship contender on paper, Denver hasn’t consistently played like one since the All-Star break.

Denver Nuggets Experienced Tensions Between Michael Malone and Calvin Booth

Reports have surfaced suggesting tensions had long been simmering between Malone and Booth. ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk described the dynamic as a “cold war,” with both parties avoiding communication and working around each other. Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports further reported that the two “never liked each other, rarely spoke, and talked behind each other’s backs.”

With David Adelman stepping in as interim coach and the front office in flux, the Nuggets are now scrambling to stabilize before the postseason begins.

Anthony noted that firing a head coach alone could be interpreted as seeking a spark, but letting go of the general manager as well sends a more damning signal.

“That’s an indictment of the roster,” Anthony said. “You don’t fire the GM unless you think what he built isn’t good enough.”

Denver’s playoff hopes now rest not only on Jokić’s MVP-level performance but also on whether the team can regain focus under interim leadership. Anthony’s comments underscore the uncertainty surrounding a franchise that, until this week, appeared firmly entrenched as a Western Conference powerhouse.

Whether ownership’s gamble pays off remains to be seen—but it could have lasting implications on Jokić’s future in Denver.

This article first appeared on Viral Sports News and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: