NBA

Denver Nuggets Fire Head Coach Michael Malone And GM Calvin Booth

Author photo
By
Jackson Frank
Author photo
Jackson Frank Sports Editor

Jackson Frank is a freelance NBA writer and editor who's been covering the league since 2017. He's previously written for places such as The Athletic and SB Nation. He loves passing big men and defensive-minded wings, and is always on the hunt for the perfect taco.

Get to know Jackson Frank better
Sports Editor

Published08 Apr 2025

Disclosure
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. While our content features sponsored links, from which we may earn a commission, this does not influence our recommendations.
Michael Malone

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Denver Nuggets have fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth. Malone is the winningest coach in Nuggets history and led Denver to the franchise’s first NBA title in 2023. Booth was named general manager in 2020 and assumed lead decision-making duties for the front office when president of basketball operations Tim Connell joined the Minnesota Timberwolves after the 2021-22 season.

Marc Stein is reporting assistant David Adelman will be promoted as interim head coach.

Malone was hired by the Nuggets in 2015 and amassed a regular season record of 471-327 during his tenure. Denver had made six consecutive playoff appearances under Malone and finds itself fourth in the West at 47-32 this season.

While both Booth and Malone helped bring the Nuggets a title in 2023, it appears a steady decline the past two years prompted these moves — warranted or unwarranted. Denver lost in the second round last season and has struggled down the stretch this regular season. The Nuggets are 3-7 over their past 10 games and sit just 0.5 games ahead of the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies.

They do not look like a genuine title contender whatsoever. A Play-In appearance is absolutely possible, despite another MVP-caliber season from Nikola Jokic.

The Adelman-led, Booth-less Nuggets will return to the court Wednesday night on the road against the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. PST.