Pelicans Scoop

Pelicans Star Reacts to Shocking Michael Malone Firing

New Orleans Pelicans star CJ McCollum reacts to shocking firing of Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone
Matt Guzman|
Apr 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena.
Apr 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Ball Arena. | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

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Just over 100 days ago, then-Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone sat behind a microphone at Ball Arena and scolded the Sacramento Kings' front office for firing Mike Brown on a whim.

Brown captained the Kings to their first playoff berth since 2006, won the NBA's Coach of the Year Award, and amassed a 107-88 record in two seasons and change before being let go on a tarmac before a team flight to Los Angeles.

"No class," Malone said of the move. "No balls. That's what I'll say about that."

Three games before the NBA Playoffs, Malone suffered the same fate. Only his came during a team meeting when Denver informed him it was moving on from both him and general manager Calvin Booth.

The Nuggets' decision didn't sit well with players around the league; especially not New Orleans Pelicans star C.J. McCollum.

"This league (is) out of pocket man," McCollum wrote on X. "W.T.H. going on? Firing good coaches right before the playoffs is nasty work!"

In 10 seasons, Malone led Denver to six playoff appearances — likely seven, counting this year — and became the franchise's winningest coach with a 798-471 record. His firing marks the latest coaching change in NBA history since Hubie Brown was let go by the Atlanta Hawks during the 1980-81 season.

The biggest difference? Malone's Nuggets are currently the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference and Brown's Hawks only mustered up 31 wins.

Nuggets coach Michael Malon
Apr 1, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

“While the timing of this decision is unfortunate," Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke shared, "as Coach Malone helped build the foundation of our now championship level program, it is a necessary step to allow us to compete at the highest level right now."

Denver won its first championship under Malone in 2023 and has a chance to contend for another this season under interim coach David Adelman, but the situation certainly doesn't spark optimism for its imminent postseason push.

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Matt Guzman
MATT GUZMAN

Matt Guzman is a sports journalist and storyteller from Austin, Texas. He serves as a credentialed reporter and site manager for San Antonio Spurs On SI and a staff writer for multiple collegiate sites in the same network. In the world of professional sports, he is a firm believer that athletes are people, too, and intends to tell stories of players and teams’ true, behind-the-scenes character that otherwise would not be seen through strong narrative writing, hooking ledes and passionate words.

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