NBA

Nuggets fire head coach Michael Malone

I don’t understand anything anymore. It was strange enough when the Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins a few weeks ago, but this dismissal is surprising on a whole other level. The vibes in Denver certainly haven’t been positive recently, but Malone was in Year 10 of guiding the franchise. Isn’t replacing him just before the playoffs going to create even more disfunction?

Despite the initial shock of this move, it isn’t Earth-shattering. Coaches — even the best ones — tend to lose power struggles to ownership, front office executives, or players. In this instance, Malone’s adversary wasn’t his players or the front office, but with ownership. It’s uncertain what went on behind the scenes in Denver, but it cost the club a great coach at a terrible time.

As one would expect, this decision puts the team in a precarious position heading into next weekend’s start of the playoffs. Denver didn’t have much of a chance at a title anyway, but firing the coach that won the franchise’s only NBA championship in 2023 is baffling.

Grade: D-