The NBA world reacted with shock and disbelief to the Denver Nuggets' firing of head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth just three games before the playoffs, with players like CJ McCollum criticizing the decision as "nasty work."
This season, the NBA continues to deliver big surprises. With just three games left in the regular season, the Denver Nuggets, currently the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, have decided to fire head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth.
Denver Nuggets
San Antonio Spurs
Golden State Warriors
Indiana Pacers
Sacramento Kings
Memphis Grizzlies
Houston RocketsThis marks one of the latest coaching changes in NBA history, tying with Hubie Brown's dismissal in 1980-81, according to ESPN.
Malone led Denver to the 2023 NBA championship, and probably nobody expected him to be sacked at this point of the season, even though Denver is on a four-game losing streak.
The news has sparked reactions throughout the league. CJ McCollum, president of the National Basketball Players Association, expressed his disbelief on social media:
"This league out of pocket, man. WTH going on," he tweeted on X. "Firing good coaches right before the playoffs is nasty work!"
This firing follows another late-season coaching change, as the Memphis Grizzlies also parted ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins.
"While the timing of this decision is unfortunate, 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," Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke communicated.
"Championship-level standards and expectations remain in place for the current season, and as we look to the future, we look forward to building on the foundations laid by Coach Malone over his record-breaking 10-year career in Denver."
NBA reactions
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