For a decade, Michael Malone was the central figure in the Denver Nuggets` narrative. He embodied toughness during their championship journey and displayed empathy when Jamal Murray faced a severe knee injury in 2021. He championed Nikola Jokic throughout his MVP seasons, defending him against any doubters.
However, last Sunday night, following the Nuggets` fourth consecutive loss – a streak unseen since March 2023 – Malone`s characteristic bluntness was on full display as he addressed the team`s struggles and the escalating urgency of their situation.
“We haven`t experienced a four-game losing streak in quite some time,” Malone admitted after a 125-120 defeat to the Indiana Pacers. “It`s easy to preach unity and `family` when victories are frequent. But in times of loss, can we maintain that unity? Do we possess the resolve to self-reflect and identify areas for personal improvement to aid the team?”
He continued, “I`ll start with myself… Am I, as the head coach, performing my duties to the best of my ability?”
Unbeknownst to Malone or anyone within the Nuggets` locker room, team president Josh Kroenke had been grappling with similar questions for months.
Malone`s messages were losing their impact. Just three weeks prior, after a significant loss to a Portland Trail Blazers team missing key players, he publicly criticized his team.
“It was an embarrassment. A complete joke,” he stated. “Are we kidding ourselves? With only eleven games remaining, is that the level of effort we`re putting forth?”
He highlighted issues with rebounding, where the Nuggets allowed 26 offensive rebound points, and turnovers, from which the Blazers scored 25 points.
“I don`t believe we played with any sense of pride tonight,” Malone asserted.
When asked about the team`s reception to his message, the veteran coach was direct.
“I`m not particularly concerned,” he said. “My responsibility is to be honest, even brutally so at times. Those who are disingenuous will dismiss it, thinking, `The coach is overreacting.` But those who genuinely care might… though they won`t review their playing time or game film on their own. We`ll have to show them the film. I even invited disagreement, asking anyone to speak up if they disagreed.”
He added, “Silence. No one said a word. My focus isn`t on how they received the message, but on being truthful about our performance.”
Despite remaining fourth in the Western Conference after a recent win against the Sacramento Kings, the Nuggets have shown a lackluster 12-13 record since the All-Star break, losing some of the dynamism that defined them two years prior.
Increased internal friction, both on the bench and on the court, had become apparent to Kroenke. Viral clips of team disagreements surfaced, including Jokic`s frustration with the defense, a heated exchange between Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, and Gordon being ignored by Murray during an attempted huddle.
More significantly, the escalating conflict between Malone and general manager Calvin Booth had created a toxic atmosphere throughout the organization.
Team sources indicated that coaches, front office personnel, and support staff felt pressured to align with one side or the other. Instead of concentrating on maximizing the potential of a team led by a three-time MVP in peak form, energy was diverted to navigating internal divisions and trust issues.
“The entire organization was suffering,” a team insider revealed. “Josh sensed this negative atmosphere. It`s unsustainable. He believed that removing those two key figures would allow everyone to refocus on their roles. Change was imperative.”
Interviews with numerous team and league insiders revealed a consistent theme: the Malone-Booth conflict was not only damaging to them personally but had permeated the entire organization. For nearly two years, victories had masked the underlying tensions. However, as losses accumulated, these issues surfaced.
Kroenke made the decision to dismiss Malone and Booth late Sunday night, according to ESPN sources. This wasn`t the first time this season Kroenke had considered parting ways with the franchise`s most successful coach and the executive instrumental in building their championship team. Kroenke reportedly considered a clean sweep at the All-Star break, but an eight-game winning streak temporarily spared Malone and Booth.
“Certain trends were deeply concerning at times, but they were often overshadowed by sporadic wins,” Kroenke acknowledged in a team interview released on Tuesday. “In professional sports, where wins and losses are the primary measure, winning can obscure many problems.”
On Monday, he consulted with his father, Stan Kroenke, and Kevin Demoff, whose influence within the organization has grown since becoming president of team and media operations for Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, which also owns the Los Angeles Rams, Colorado Avalanche, and Arsenal FC.
Tuesday was designated as optional for players, but during a four-game losing streak, the unspoken expectation was to attend and work. Every player, except Russell Westbrook who was in Los Angeles with family, was present at Ball Arena`s practice court by 10:30 a.m. Unbeknownst to most, except Nikola Jokic who had a private conversation with Kroenke, Malone was already packing his office, having been informed of the end of his decade-long tenure in Denver.
“He informed me, `We`ve made a decision.` It wasn`t a discussion, but a decision,” Jokic stated on Wednesday. “He explained the reasons, and I listened and accepted it.”
Instead of practice, the players were summoned to an 11 a.m. meeting with Kroenke, where they learned of the firing of a coach who had been a constant presence for many of them.
“It`s incredibly disrespectful,” a source close to the situation commented. “This isn`t how you treat a championship-winning coach.”
The timing, with only three regular-season games remaining, was shocking.
However, this shock was precisely Kroenke`s intention. “We aimed to maximize the remaining season,” Kroenke explained. “To shake things up and extract every possible advantage.”
The Nuggets have long felt compelled to maximize Jokic`s championship potential, aiming for multiple titles, not just the one secured in 2023. Booth had stated before the season his belief that the Nuggets were midway through Jokic`s decade-long prime, emphasizing the need to build a sustained contender rather than a short-term, veteran-heavy team.
Booth`s strategy focused on drafting and developing young, cost-effective players like Christian Braun, Watson, Julian Strawther, Zeke Nnaji, and Jalen Pickett.
Malone, conversely, favored retaining the core group – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, and Jeff Green – that delivered the franchise`s first title, while gradually integrating younger players.
Malone reportedly resented Booth`s decisions in free agency, suspecting they were intended to force him to play the younger draftees.
“They held fundamentally different views,” another team source noted.
This tension manifested in various ways.
“The situation became untenable,” a team insider remarked. “Coach Malone and Calvin couldn`t resolve it because it had become about their personal conflict.”
Players even questioned whether their playing time was influenced by the Malone-Booth dynamic, according to team sources.
“If you were perceived as `Calvin`s guy,` Malone was less inclined to play you,” a source bluntly stated.
Over time, players reportedly tuned out Malone, from the top players down, as team sources indicated.
One source said, “The players were visibly unhappy. Their effort became inconsistent. I only wish this change had happened sooner to prevent this current predicament.”
Malone is not unique in his reluctance to heavily utilize younger players. Phil Jackson famously referred to rookies disparagingly, and Steve Kerr often played lottery picks less than desired by the front office.
When Malone hesitated to play Nnaji at power forward, despite analytics suggesting it was his more effective position compared to backup center, some staff questioned if there was an underlying motive.
“The data clearly shows Nnaji performs better as a power forward than as a center,” a team source stated. “But playing him as a center exposes his weaknesses. Who does that reflect poorly on?”
NBA Advanced Stats indicated Nnaji had a plus-100 rating when playing power forward alongside a center, but a minus-113 in 235 minutes as a center.
Early in the season, Malone`s decision to insert Westbrook into the starting lineup, benching Braun, was acknowledged by Malone himself as unfair to Braun.
“Never an easy decision,” Malone said after a loss to the New York Knicks where he debuted the new lineup. “Christian Braun has been exceptional for us this year, exceeding expectations. He`s done everything asked of him. But I preferred keeping Russell in the lineup.”
Defensively, at that time, the Jokic-Westbrook pairing had a strong net rating, ranking among the top duos. Jokic-Braun`s rating was also highly competitive.
“What more does Braun need to prove?” a team source questioned. “Even Malone acknowledged his contributions, yet he`s being demoted for Russ?”
While Jokic might not have publicly voiced discontent, sources suggest he was aware of and unhappy with the internal discord throughout the season.
“Joker has a subtle way of expressing his feelings without explicit words,” a team source explained.
Jokic has consistently indicated his commitment to Denver. Before the season, he appeared to express confidence in the organization despite the departure of key veterans in recent offseasons.
“People often want more and more, failing to appreciate what they already have,” Jokic told ESPN. “I`m genuinely happy we`ve won a title—many great players never achieve that.”
The only hint of openness to playing elsewhere came recently when his agent responded to a betting line listing potential future destinations on Instagram, jokingly referencing the Lakers as a preferred second option to his own agency`s team in Serbia. Still, the Nuggets are focused on maximizing Jokic`s prime years.
“We have the best player in the world,” a Nuggets official emphasized. “We take that responsibility seriously.”
This urgency, sources say, fueled Kroenke`s decision, intensified by two factors.
Jokic is eligible for a significant contract extension this summer. While it`s widely expected he will sign, any hesitation would be detrimental to the Nuggets.
Additionally, interim head coach David Adelman is expected to be a candidate for coaching vacancies this summer. By giving him this interim opportunity, the Nuggets gain an advantage in potentially retaining him.
“I believe the players respect Adelman,” a team source noted. “They connect with him. I anticipate a positive response. I had hoped he would get this opportunity sooner.”
The decision to fire Booth alongside Malone is complex yet straightforward.
When organizational discord creates factions, a team source explained, both sides often need to be removed.
Choosing one side, it was believed, would have forced those on the losing side to either conform or leave, potentially aligning with replacements.
Kroenke held both Malone and Booth accountable for allowing personal conflicts to negatively impact the organization, sources indicated.
“I attribute it to both of them,” a team source stated. “As leaders, they share responsibility for the discord. Egos played a part, and the negativity cascaded down.”
Booth was offered a contract extension over the summer but did not immediately accept. The Kroenkes then faced a choice: improve the offer or maintain the status quo.
Initially, they did nothing. As the season progressed and losses mounted, the original offer was reportedly no longer available for Booth.
This situation is not entirely unexpected for those familiar with Nuggets` front office dynamics. The team has a history of identifying executive talent but struggles with retention.
Masai Ujiri departed for Toronto in 2013 for a better offer, becoming one of the league`s highest-paid executives. His successor, Tim Connelly, also left for a lucrative offer from the Minnesota Timberwolves before the 2022-23 season.
“The Kroenkes are not known for generously compensating front office staff,” a league source commented. “They believe they can replace executives more easily than finding star players or coaches. This is understood when taking a job in Denver.”
Booth aimed to buck this trend, seemingly on track after acquiring Caldwell-Pope, Brown, and drafting Braun, contributing to the championship in his first season as GM.
Malone received credit and an extension post-championship. However, extensions for assistant coaches were not immediately approved, and no extensions materialized for Booth or his front office staff, adding to organizational tension, sources revealed.
As the season continued and contracts neared expiration, pressure intensified.
“Ownership shares a significant part of the blame,” a team source concluded. “Their approach didn`t help the situation at all.”
Much has been discussed regarding Kroenke`s meetings with players and coaches post-decision.
“It was beneficial for everyone to gather and acknowledge our recent underperformance,” Adelman stated before a game in Sacramento. “Josh being present and engaging with the players was very positive.”
Kroenke also met with players in Sacramento, where his message became more personal.
“He mentioned observing a lack of enjoyment and diminished effort,” Michael Porter Jr. recounted. “He wanted to reinforce these elements as foundational to our culture.”
During their championship run, a strong team culture thrived, characterized by trust and minimal internal conflict. The primary controversy then involved Malone`s defense of Jokic and the Nuggets` media coverage after a Game 1 Finals win against the Lakers.
Malone`s assertive voice was crucial then, complementing the quieter leadership styles of Jokic and Murray, motivating the team to compete fiercely. During victories, such dynamics align effectively.
However, in the past two years, the expected level of success has not been consistently achieved. Malone`s candid commentary, while consistent with his style, began to lose impact.
In times of loss, his directness became less effective, with his message failing to resonate.
Malone`s coaching ability was not questioned, sources indicated, but his rigid demeanor and the distractions from his conflict with Booth became increasingly burdensome.
“Contrast this with Joker, who is incredibly selfless and dislikes attention,” a team source pointed out. “Eventually, something had to give.”
The recent win in Sacramento offered a fresh start. The Nuggets quickly established a lead and maintained control throughout the game.
Adelman emphasized player communication in huddles and on the court, prioritizing their voices over his.
“Our communication was likely the best it`s been all year,” Braun commented. “Everyone was engaged, with players communicating directly instead of relying solely on coaching instructions.”
Jokic was notably engaged, actively drawing plays during huddles and speaking extensively, even showing signs of hoarseness in a post-game interview.
“Josh achieved the desired response,” Jokic observed. “Some might perceive us as vulnerable, but a wounded beast is often at its most dangerous. Perhaps he has awakened our competitive spirit.”
The Nuggets have limited time to determine the outcome.