On Tuesday, the Denver Nuggets announced that they have fired head coach Michael Malone and will not extend the contract of general manager Calvin Booth.
The developments are shocking, with Denver making waves just before the 2025 NBA Playoffs arrive. Before the Nuggets announced the news, it made the rounds on social media. Numerous folks in the NBA sphere took to X and reacted to Denver’s decision to part ways with its head coach and general manager.
News of the Malone firing came first.
Days before the NBA playoffs, the Nuggets dismissed Malone in a meeting today. Malone is the winningest coach in franchise history since being hired in 2015 – and led the Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship. https://t.co/9MeAjEuAQo
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025
Mike Malone, an actual championship-winning coach, getting fired the last week of the season is infinitely worse and more shocking than Taylor Jenkins lol
— Cousin Larry OB ☘️🏆 (@AndrewDoxy) April 8, 2025
Yes, Denver has been struggling of late.
But FIRING Mike Malone, who won you a title TWO years ago, had you one win from WCF last year… MAN!?!??!
That's crazy. With SIX DAYS left in the regular season!#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/DYhogsbnur
— Zach 𝟚𝟛 Weiss (@TheTriumphant23) April 8, 2025
First Memphis and now Denver?! Grizzlies was out of nowhere but this is next-level shocking! Curious to hear what happened — What a season in the NBA lol
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) April 8, 2025
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) 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
The 47-32 Nuggets just fired their coach right before the playoffs 😳
What in the world…. pic.twitter.com/mfDoRdIXjZ
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 8, 2025
The Booth news came next.
Full clean out: The Denver Nuggets are also firing general manager Calvin Booth, sources tell ESPN. Michael Malone and Booth both out today. pic.twitter.com/FvqOAFyOKy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025
Insane: the Nuggets are also firing the GM Calvin Booth, per @ShamsCharania
What’s going on in Denver??? pic.twitter.com/uhQhXJSoLq
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 8, 2025
This situation in Denver has been tense and pressurized since the beginning of the year. Both Malone and Booth had big ideas and strong wills. Now both are out… https://t.co/NJeHyhTh7Q
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) April 8, 2025
Malone and Booth apparently had an icy relationship.
Absolutely nuts. Booth and Malone never liked each other, rarely spoke, and talked behind each other's backs. With the team struggling on the court, Nuggets ownership decided to fire both. Insane. https://t.co/BUVS7grQWq
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) April 8, 2025
According to a report, Nuggets ownership felt like the team needed a “jolt.”
Sources say ownership felt like team needed a jolt in hopes of still making a run and that vibes had not been good. There was an expectation things were likely to change with either Malone and/or Booth after season due to what sources described as a “cold war” between the two. https://t.co/1N8t59tpmC
— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) April 8, 2025
Malone spent nearly 10 full seasons leading the Nuggets from the sidelines, and Denver had a regular-season winning percentage of .590 during his tenure. No coach in franchise history has coached Denver to more victories in the regular season than his 471.
The most games the Nuggets won in a single campaign under his leadership came when the team totaled 57 wins in the 2023-24 season. Denver also had eight winning seasons during his time holding the squad’s coaching reins.
Malone’s crowning achievement as the head coach of the Nuggets was leading the team to its first title in franchise history in 2023. Denver dominated its competition in the 2023 NBA Playoffs on its way to a championship, as the Phoenix Suns were the only playoff opponent to force a Game 6 against the Nuggets.
Booth’s tenure as Denver’s general manager didn’t last nearly as long as Malone’s time as its head coach, but Booth, like Malone, was able to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning a championship with the Nuggets.
The players on Denver’s roster won’t have much time to process the moves concerning Malone and Booth, as the team has a contest against the Sacramento Kings coming up on Wednesday night. Denver will try to win its 48th game of the season and snap a four-game losing streak when it takes on the Kings. The Nuggets still have a chance to win 50 games this season.
