Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Michael Malone's insincerity on full display in ESPN debut

By Sai Mohan | Last updated May 21, 2025 12:47 PM ET

Is Michael Malone still salty about being fired by the Nuggets?

Denver's former head coach raised some eyebrows with comments he made Tuesday night during his debut as an ESPN analyst.

First, he called Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander "the MVP" of the NBA, backtracking on earlier comments about Nikola Jokic. On March 11, when the Nuggets still employed him, Malone went on a profanity-laced tirade, saying analysts alike were "bulls—ing" by picking SGA over Jokic in the two-man MVP race. He argued that Jokic, the first player in NBA history to finish in the top three in four statistical categories, would have won the MVP "10 out of 10 times" if not for the media bias.

Vic Lombardi, the longtime voice of the Nuggets, hinted that Malone was still not over his breakup with the organization.

Breakups get weird https://t.co/YFRpJ2BTHI
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) May 21, 2025

Malone wasn't done taking shots at his ex.

The 2023 NBA champion said that the Thunder won Game 7 against the Nuggets in front of "the best fans in the NBA." Many perceived the comment as another swipe at the Nuggets. Malone called the Mile High City faithful the "best fans in the NBA" several times in previous years.

Michael Malone said OKC just won a Game 7 in front of “The best fans in the NBA.” pic.twitter.com/hCD94ju5A8
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) May 21, 2025

Michael Malone calling the Thunder fans the “best fans in the NBA” stung a little more than I thought it would
— Rachel Vigil (@heyrachelvigil) May 21, 2025

Malone's shots at Jokic and the Nuggets lend further credence to the notion that the locker room was on board with his dismissal.

In the immediate aftermath of his firing, Jokic surprisingly said that Nuggets governor Josh Kroenke's decision to clean house may benefit him and his team in the season's final stretch. Jokic also admitted that he was on board with Malone's firing and "accepted" the decision.

Ultimately, Malone's firing worked wonders for the Nuggets, who fared well under interim coach David Adelman. After finishing the regular season 3-0 under Adelman, the Nuggets pushed the top-seeded Thunder to a Game 7 in the second round of the postseason. Back in March, the Nuggets seemed destined for an early playoff exit.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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