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Nuggets Executive Reveals Strong Statement on Mike Malone After Playoff Series Win.

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated May 4, 2025 10:35 AM ET

The NBA world was stunned on April 8 when the Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone. The decision came after the Nuggets lost four straight games and were battling to maintain home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Despite Malone’s success in Denver, including a 2023 NBA championship, his tenure came to an abrupt end.

This move tied for the latest in-season coaching change in NBA history and set a record for a playoff-bound team. Malone, 53, left the Nuggets with 471 career wins and the NBA title.

The firing sparked immediate questions about how the Nuggets would respond in the 2025 NBA playoffs. In the first round, they answered emphatically, eliminating the Los Angeles Clippers in a hard-fought seven-game series. The decisive Game 7 ended with a convincing 120–101 victory for Denver.

Following the win, a Nuggets executive offered a candid explanation:

"If we don't make the changes, there's no way we're even in a Game 7," the unnamed executive said.

Weeks after firing their head coach and GM, the Nuggets defeated the Clippers to advance in the NBA playoffs.

"If we don't make the changes, there's no way we're even in a Game 7."

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Star center Nikola Jokic was also asked about the sudden coaching change and gave an honest assessment:

"I think the owner ... wanted to change something, to change the energy and probably he did," Jokic said, "He got the result he was looking for."

David Adelman was immediately promoted to interim head coach. He has been with the organization since the 2017-2018 season and is the son of former NBA head coach Rick Adelman. Before this role, David Adelman’s only head coaching experience came during NBA Summer League play.

The shake-up extended beyond the coaching staff. General manager Calvin Booth was also dismissed. Ben Tenzer is currently serving as the interim GM while the organization begins a full search for a permanent replacement.

The Nuggets now head into the second round of the NBA Playoffs, where they’ll face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder swept the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round and finished the regular season with a conference-best 68 wins. Game 1 between the Thunder and Nuggets begins at 9:30 p.m. ET Monday in Oklahoma City. The game will be televised on TNT.

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

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