Apr 1, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Charles Barkley Gives Blunt Assessment Of Denver Nuggets Firings

Originally posted on Back in the Day NBA on SI
By Shandel Richardson | Last updated Apr 10, 2025 2:52 PM ET

This week, the Denver Nuggets shocked the NBA by firing coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.

Not much information has been released about the decision but it surprised many. One of them was TNT analyst Charles Barkley, who spoke about it with Altitude Sports Radio.

"No. 1, I was shocked because he got fired," Barkley said. "I like Mike Malone as a coach. But I was shocked for two reasons. No. 2, three games to go in the rest of the regular season. But he had a done really good job. I know they had been struggling."

The Nuggets were successful under Malone and Booth, defeating the Miami Heat in the 2023 Finals. Last year they were ousted by Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round despite Nikola Jokic winning a third Most Valuable Player award.

This year, the Nuggets could finish high as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Barkley thinks there was beef between Booth and Malone, but owner Josh Kroenke got rid of them both to avoid taking a side.

"They're like (11-13) since the All-Star break, which surprised me" Barkley said. "But this late in the season, I was shocked. But I don't know what happened but what I think happened was there clearly was something going on with Calvin and Mike. I think, and this is just me guessing from a distance, the owner said I'm not gonna choose, I'm gonna get rid of both of y'all. That's what it seems like, from me guessing. from all my years in the NBA."

This article first appeared on Back in the Day NBA on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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