Insider Reveals 'Consensus' About Michael Malone After Nuggets Firing

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Svyato Rovenchuk | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 12:35 PM ET

The Denver Nuggets decided to one-up the Memphis Grizzlies when they let go of not only head coach Michael Malone, but general manager Calvin Booth with only a few games left in the 2024-25 NBA season. It has been so far, so good for the Nuggets.

Denver won their first game under interim head coach David Adelman. The 124-116 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday has Adelman, who has been rumored to be a sought-after coaching candidate across the league, starting off 1-0 in his career leading a team.

The concern for many with making this kind of decision at such a late point in the 2024-25 NBA season was the turmoil it could result in. Making a big change like this was bound to create instability within the Nuggets organization to some capacity.

While there are many feelings on the subject, one NBA insider has suggested that disappointment has not been one of them, internally. ESPN's Tim MacMahon offered insight as to what is going on behind closed doors in Denver.

"I frankly haven’t heard sadness that Michael Malone is no longer the Nuggets head coach. It’s been pretty much a consensus that his time had come."

-Tim MacMahon

Many believed that the writing has been on the wall for Malone's time coming to an end with the Nuggets. Despite being the coach who led the 2023 Nuggets to an NBA championship, a lot of rumors have come out regarding the disgruntled locker room in Denver over the last couple of days.

Adelman is certainly being forced into a tough position with the Nuggets. The interim head coach will be forced to adapt the Nuggets to his schemes and styles as best as possible throughout the postseason. However, having already been a part of the old staff, one would imagine the learning curve will not be too steep for Denver.

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

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