Former Sacramento Kings coach Michael Malone often addressed the team’s ongoing struggles and instability during his visits to the city as head coach of the Denver Nuggets. He didn’t shy away from making pointed comments about his former employer, but this time, he won’t be there to do so.
In a surprising move just 11 days before the NBA playoffs, the Nuggets fired Malone and general manager Calvin Booth on Tuesday. The news comes ahead of Denver’s visit to face the Kings on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center—a game set to air nationally on ESPN. The coaching reins now fall to interim head coach David Adelman, a familiar name in Sacramento. Adelman is the son of Rick Adelman, who famously led the Kings to eight straight playoff appearances from 1999 to 2006.
Heading into the matchup, the Nuggets (47-32) sit in fourth place in the Western Conference with four games left in the regular season. They’re in a tight race for the No. 4 seed—and homecourt advantage—with teams like the Clippers, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Grizzlies all close behind. The Kings (39-40), currently ninth, are looking to lock down a home game in the play-in tournament following recent wins against the Cavaliers and Pistons.
Malone made headlines earlier this season when he criticized Kings owner Vivek Ranadive following the firing of coach Mike Brown in December. Malone, who was dismissed by Ranadive himself in 2014, didn’t hold back:
“I’m not surprised that Mike Brown got fired, because I got fired by the same person,” Malone said. “What really pissed me off was how it was handled. After a tough loss—their fifth straight—Mike did his postgame duties, headed to the airport, and got the call on the way. No class, no balls. That’s what I’ll say about that.”
Malone’s stint in Sacramento lasted less than two seasons, ending with a 39-67 record. He joined the Nuggets the next year and built a strong legacy, compiling a 471-327 record over 10 seasons and leading Denver to its first NBA championship in 2023.
However, after a recent slump—four straight losses and a 13-11 record since the All-Star break—team owner Josh Kroenke decided it was time for a change.
“This decision was not made lightly,” Kroenke said in a statement. “It was carefully evaluated and made with the intention of giving our team the best chance to compete for the 2025 NBA Championship. While the timing is unfortunate, we believe this is a necessary step to maintain our championship-level standards. Coach Malone helped lay the foundation of this program, and we’re grateful for his historic tenure in Denver.
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