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Michael Malone Had Classy Message for Nuggets Fans Days After Surprise Firing

The former coach is grateful for his 10 seasons leading the Nuggets after his sudden departure.

Blake Silverman

Former Denver Nuggets head coach Malone speaks to reporters before a game.
Former Denver Nuggets head coach Malone speaks to reporters before a game. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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The timing of the Denver Nuggets' firing of head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth was a shocker. Denver cleaned house with just three games left in their regular season schedule while they prepare for the NBA playoffs.

Apparently, though, Malone and Booth's simultaneous departures were less of a surprise for those within the organization based on a reported rift between the two which negatively impacted the team. According to an ESPN report, Nuggets president Josh Kroenke wanted to make the move at February's All-Star break, but an eight-game winning streak spared Malone and Booth.

As the NBA's regular season reaches its conclusion Sunday and the Nuggets work out their seeding in the Western Conference playoffs, Malone took the opportunity to say "thank you." In Sunday's edition of The Denver Post, Malone took out a full page to thank his former players, coaching staff, ownership and Nuggets fans.

"To Nuggets nation, it has been my absolute pleasure to lead and fight for our team every night," Malone wrote via The Denver Post's Nuggets reporter Bennett Durando. "To help bring Denver its first NBA championship is an accomplishment that I will always cherish. I will be forever grateful for the unwavering love and support you showed me and my family. Denver is home, and being your coach has been my privilege."

Malone coached the Nuggets for 10 seasons and led the team to a title in 2023, the first in franchise history. David Adelman, an assistant on Malone's staff, took over as interim coach following the longtime coach's sudden departure. The Nuggets finish their regular season Sunday against the Houston Rockets as they battle for playoff positioning.

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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation's Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master's in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University. Outside of work, he's probably binging the latest Netflix documentary, at a yoga studio or enjoying everything Detroit sports. A lifelong Michigander, he lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, young son and their personal petting zoo of two cats and a dog.

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