The Denver Nuggets made the shocking decision to fire championship-winning head coach Michael Malone less than two weeks before the start of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Malone left the team alongside GM Calvin Booth, who was the architect of the 2023 Championship team. A clean slate before a postseason run was rarely seen before this season, but Malone is the second Playoff coach to get fired this late in the season.
Many wondered how three-time MVP Nikola Jokic would feel about this, having been coached by Malone for over a decade. However, the Serbian center revealed he was informed by team owner Josh Kroenke that both Malone and Booth would be axed.
“I won’t tell you what Josh (Kroenke) told me. I knew a little bit before everybody. And he told me, ‘We made a decision.’ So, it was not a discussion. It was a decision, and he told me why. So I listened and I accepted it. I’m not gonna tell you what he told me, I’ll keep it private.”
Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets firing Michael Malone and Calvin Booth: “I knew a little bit before everybody. And (Josh Kroenke) told me, ‘We made a decision.’ So it was not a discussion. It was a decision, and he told me why. So I listened and I accept it.” pic.twitter.com/4NQRPrLLzG
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) April 10, 2025
The Nuggets made a bold move. While they did do Jokic the solid of informing him, it seemed like he wasn’t consulted on the decision. It’d be hard for him to turn his back on the coach who had a major role in developing him into one of the greatest players in the modern era. However, it was clear that there was dissension in the ranks.
The Athletic revealed that Jokic was growing frustrated with the team’s defensive shape, especially over the four-game losing streak that dropped Denver into the Play-In mix and cost both Malone and Booth their jobs.
“League sources there had been significant frustration within the locker room at how the Nuggets were playing, particularly defensively. The Nuggets were just 20th in defensive rating. Jokić has been frustrated with the team’s defensive commitment and performance this season.”
Jokic is averaging 29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists this season. It seems like his patience might be running thin in Denver, but we know he’s motivated to finish off this season at his best with new head coach David Edelman.
Nikola Jokic Thinks This Firing Might Have ‘Woken Up The Beast’
After Jokic led the Nuggets to end their four-game losing streak and deliver their interim head coach his first win, he made it clear that Malone’s firing has the potential to rile the Nuggets into a team that people haven’t seen this season.
“People say that we were vulnerable, but the beast is always the strongest and most dangerous when they’re vulnerable. Maybe he woke up the beast.”
Nikola Jokic: “People say that we were vulnerable, but the beast is always the most dangerous when they’re vulnerable.”
“Maybe he woke up the beast.” pic.twitter.com/3QboYDj3YS
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) April 10, 2025
There has been trouble in Denver in one way or another for some years. The management let multiple key role-players from their title team leave in recent seasons with the hope that young players would replace them. However, coach Malone relied more on veteran talents to carry the team to wins than allow youngsters to shine.
Now, it’s clear the Nuggets will do whatever they can to finish the season on a high, even if it means Jokic is drawing up their offensive plays the rest of the way. Winning a title this season might not be possible, but winning one next year is, provided they can keep Jokic happy.
