Denver Nuggets Firing Michael Malone Had NBA World Absolutely Stunned

Safe to say no one saw this coming.

Then Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone on Feb 11, 2023. / Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images

The Denver Nuggets on Tuesday shockingly fired head Michael Malone with just three games left in a 47-32 season, which has them currently in the No. 4 spot in the Western Conference. Malone, who has served as the head coach since 2015, led the team to its first NBA title in 2023 and is the winningest coach in franchise history.

Immediately, the news was met with total shock from NBA fans and pundits. Shortly after, it was reported that the team was firing its general manager, Calvin Booth, as well.

At the time of this writing, the rationale for either firing was still unclear.

Take a look at that reaction below:

What is happening?!? https://t.co/ZKobdVel3H

— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) April 8, 2025

<Checks date> it’s April but not April fools. Whoa! https://t.co/tpDc58kWKF

— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) April 8, 2025

Nuggets definitely aren’t where they need to be but I don’t know how Malone is the one being held responsible

— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) April 8, 2025

Two Western Conference playoff teams have now fired their head coaches in the final month of the season. Wild. https://t.co/OcS0PzBArQ

— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) April 8, 2025

Two teams fired the winningest coach in their franchise history right before the playoffs. Shocking. https://t.co/XImgswcMrQ

— Danny Emerman (@DannyEmerman) April 8, 2025

no job security despite being the winningest coach in franchise history and also winning the only championship in franchise history is nuts https://t.co/db0sxx4Nz5

— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) April 8, 2025

This league out of pocket man . WTH going on. Firing good coaches right before the playoffs is nasty work !

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) April 8, 2025

?????? https://t.co/Hs2N5vjLdC

— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) April 8, 2025

honest reaction https://t.co/WFDkNK0mLE pic.twitter.com/5LmPaIjNrZ

— subscribe to the state of the league patreon (@JoestarJokic) April 8, 2025

WHAT? Beyond shocked https://t.co/bigqZJd388

— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) April 8, 2025

Seriously…. What is going on? Can someone explain to me how this makes sense right before the playoffs start when you are a top 4 seed https://t.co/HCRhFaO7kG

— Frank Kaminsky III (@FSKPart3) April 8, 2025

Booth and Malone's firings come after the Memphis Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins at the end of March with just nine games remaining in the season. Jenkins was the franchise's winningest coach.

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