Mar 23, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacts during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Denver Nuggets Fire Head Coach Michael Malone

Originally posted on Denver Nuggets on SI
By Logan Struck | Last updated Apr 8, 2025 1:40 PM ET

With just three games left in the regular season, the Denver Nuggets sit in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 47-32 record, led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.

While the Nuggets have had an incredible 2024-25 campaign, they have fallen into a four-game losing streak and are slipping as the postseason quickly approaches. In a shocking turn of events, though, the Nuggets made one of their biggest decisions in franchise history.

ESPN's Shams Charania reports that the Denver Nuggets have parted ways with head coach Michael Malone on Tuesday.

BREAKING: The Denver Nuggets have fired coach Michael Malone, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/bZoKRx6kgt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025

Malone has spent the last ten seasons as the head coach of the Nuggets, becoming the winningest coach in franchise history, and even led the team to their first-ever NBA championship in 2023.

Malone and the Nuggets have reached 46+ wins in each of the last eight seasons, including three 50+ win campaigns. With just three games left in the regular season and the Nuggets just 1.5 games behind the third-place Los Angeles Lakers, this move is a complete shocker.

BREAKING: Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone have been relieved of duties, league sources tell me. David Adelman will take over.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 8, 2025

With Malone out as Denver's head coach, David Adelman will take over for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. Adelman has been Malone's assistant in Denver for the past eight years, but will now get the opportunity to prove himself as the leader on the Nuggets' sideline.

This is a shocking move for the Nuggets, who are in contention for another NBA title with the postseason right around the corner, but they must have felt the move could not wait until the offseason.

This article first appeared on Denver Nuggets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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