Major Update in Nuggets' Head Coaching Vacancy After Season-Ending Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | Last updated May 19, 2025 12:23 PM ET

David Adelman took over the Denver Nuggets with just a few regular season games remaining, as long-time head coach Michael Malone was sacked, alongside general manager Calvin Boothe.

Despite heading into the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference with an interim head coach, the Nuggets made some noise.

Denver took the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the second round with Adelman at the helm.

It certainly helps that the interim had spent quite some time on Malone's staff.

Still, Adelman has an interim tag, and the Nuggets, with their season now over, have the ability to do due diligence in finding a permanent head coach.

Given how Adelman did in his limited regular season campaign and two playoff series as a head coach, he certainly should be the leading candidate to keep the position permanently.

According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, the Nuggets' most recent bench boss is a strong candidate to remain in the head coaching role.

Nuggets interim coach David Adelman is considered a strong candidate to be promoted to head coach permanently, per @espn_macmahon. pic.twitter.com/BMa5O4reuc
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 19, 2025

While having the backing of the ownership -- and whatever general manager the club hires -- Adelman has already gotten the stamp of approval from the players.

"I love DA," Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon said. "I hope he's here next year. I hope he's our next coach. I hope he gets an entire training camp and a whole offseason to figure out his philosophy. DA's great. He was excellent for us, and I hope that he's here next year."

It wasn't just the forward -- who is beloved among Nuggets fans and has be immortalized in the fanbase -- as Nikola Jokic joined the party in support of Adelman.

"You had three games to change something," Jokic said. "I think he changed energy. I think the guys were woken up a little. Guys had more energy. He made us believe something, and we played good. We played a seven-game series against the best team in the NBA. We had opportunity, we had chances. I think he did a really good job."

The stamp of approval is there. The playoff data is there. It's hard to imagine Adelman isn't the next official head coach of the Denver Nuggets.

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

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