DENVER — In a bombshell move with just three games left in the 2024-25 season, the Denver Nuggets have fired their head coach and general manager, the team announced Tuesday.
Head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth were both considered instrumental in Denver hoisting its first Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2023.
Malone is the franchise’s all-time coaching wins leader with 471 in 10 seasons at the helm, taking over as head coach before Nikola Jokic’s rookie season. David Adelman, an assistant coach with the team since 2017, will assume head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.
- Denver7 sports anchor Lionel Bienvenu reacts to the "mind-blowing" move, in the video player below:
"This wasn’t a decision taken lightly or taken as a reactionary fashion to anything specific," said Kroenke Sports vice chairman Josh Kroenke in a video posted to the team's social media hours after the announcement.
Kroenke said he noticed "worrisome" trends "at different points in time," but those would be masked by wins.
"In the world of professional sports when winning and losing is your currency, winning can mask a lot of things," he said, noting the Nuggets' 8-game win streak before the All-Star Break.
The vice chairman said there was going to be a change in the head coach and general manager roles at the end of the season, but in an effort to "squeeze as much juice out of the rest of this season as possible," the team decided to pull the trigger now.
"I think there’s more to that group than has been accomplished so far. You know, how much more is in that group – I don’t think I know the answer to that, I don’t think anyone knows the answer to that. But I think I have a belief that there’s more in that group that can be accomplished," said Kroenke.
Kroenke said he has "a lot of confidence" in Adelman, who is now calling the shots. The team will launch a full search for a permanent head coach "when the time comes."
"Hopefully it doesn't come for a very long time because, again, I do believe there's more in that group and we're not done with this season just yet," Kroenke said.
Hear from Josh Kroenke, Vice Chairman of KSE, regarding today’s news. pic.twitter.com/n1J5QDGttT
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 8, 2025
Booth, a former journeyman NBA player, has been with the organization since 2017. He started with the team as an assistant general manager and was promoted to general manager in 2020.
"I want to thank Calvin Booth for leading our front office for the past three years and most importantly for helping put the final pieces in place for the roster that delivered Denver and our fans their first NBA Championship," the Nuggets' statement read. "Calvin’s knowledge of the game, his passion for scouting, and his long history as a player and executive in the NBA helped lift our organization to new heights which we will continue moving forward. We are grateful to Calvin for his eight years with the Nuggets and know his place in Nuggets history as our first championship winning GM will be honored for years to come."
The Nuggets held the No. 4 seed in a stacked Western Conference when the news came down late Tuesday morning but were limping toward the postseason. They were just 3-7 in their last 10 games.
- After the team's first NBA title in 2023, Denver7 sports reporter Nick Rothschild published a commentary that dubbed Malone the most underrated coach in Denver sports history. Watch and read that piece below and here.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Denver Nuggets 2024-25 Schedule
- April 9: @ Sacramento Kings
- April 11: vs. Memphis Grizzlies
- April 13: @ Houston Rockets
