The Denver Nuggets fired coach Michael Malone, the team announced Tuesday.
David Adelman, the Nuggets’ lead assistant, will serve as the team’s interim coach for the remainder of the season.
The Nuggets also announced they will not be extending the contract of general manager Calvin Booth.
The stunning moves come with the Nuggets amid a four-game losing streak. Denver (47-32) is currently in fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
Malone led the Nuggets to an NBA championship just two seasons ago. He is 471-327 in 10 seasons as the team’s coach.
“This decision was not made lightly and was evaluated very carefully, and we do it only with the intention of giving our group the best chance at competing for the 2025 NBA Championship and delivering another title to Denver and our fans everywhere,” Josh Kroenke, the vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, said in a statement.
“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. 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.”
Booth has been the Nuggets’ GM for the past three seasons, with his first season being Denver’s championship season in 2022-23.
“I want to thank Calvin Booth for leading our front office for the past three years and most importantly for helping put the final pieces in place for the roster that delivered Denver and our fans their first NBA Championship. Calvin’s knowledge of the game, his passion for scouting, and his long history as a player and executive in the NBA helped lift our organization to new heights which we will continue moving forward,” Kroenke said in a statement.
