Nuggets Fire Coach Malone and GM Booth Amid Losing Streak

DENVER, Colo. — The Denver Nuggets have made a shocking decision to fire head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth on Tuesday, just a week before the NBA playoffs, according to sources reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

This unexpected move comes on the heels of a four-game losing streak that has placed the Nuggets at 47-32, currently sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. David Adelman, who has been the team’s lead assistant, has been appointed as interim coach.

Malone, who has led the franchise since 2015, is the winningest coach in Nuggets history and guided the team to an NBA championship during the 2022-23 season. His record stands at 471-327 over ten seasons with the team.

Calvin Booth, the Nuggets’ general manager for the past three years, was also dismissed. His first year coincided with the team’s championship-winning season. The quick succession of these changes signals a dramatic shift in the Nuggets’ organizational strategy as the playoffs approach.

The Nuggets find themselves in a tenuous position, just a half-game ahead of the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis Grizzlies, while trailing the third-place Los Angeles Lakers by 1.5 games. The implications of these changes will be closely watched as the team prepares for the playoffs.

“Days before the NBA playoffs, the Nuggets dismissed Malone in a meeting today,” Charania reported. The reason for the dismissal has not yet been disclosed, leaving fans and analysts alike speculating about the motivations behind this decision.

As the Nuggets transition to a new coaching staff, the focus will be on how they adjust their strategies leading into the playoff season and whether interim coach Adelman can provide the leadership necessary to navigate these critical upcoming weeks.

More updates are expected as the situation develops as the Nuggets continue their campaign in hopes of repeating their championship success from two seasons ago.