We can think of few people more qualified to comment on this topic than Michael Malone, former head coach of the Denver Nuggets. First that Nikola Jokic is his favorite for this season. Use Malone’s quotes to ignite a mutiny among Nuggets fans. This comes after his early shout-out to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who indeed had a tournament worthy of an MVP award.
Malone had already spent a decade coaching the Nuggets. He was tragically left out of the 100-member global media panel of voters that ultimately chose this year’s MVP winner. Even if he can’t cast a ballot, like Magic, he can still display his support for Jokic. He accomplished this by crashing ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” broadcast during the Western Conference finals.
The controversy began when Malone acknowledged Gilgeous-Alexander’s performance during the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 1 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, stating that he “showed why he’s the MVP.” This comment didn’t exactly please a lot of Denver fans, who took it to mean Jokic was being dissed.
In an attempt to fight back the backlash, Malone emphasized that he was the one who actually voted Jokic MVP this year. He emphasized his commitment to setting the record straight, saying, “Want to make sure the people in Denver know that because right now, I’m getting a lot of heat back home.”
Jokic ended up finishing second behind Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named the league’s most valuable player. Malone’s previous comments created a stir and left many fans confused as to what side Malone was really on when it came to the MVP race.
Despite being fired just days before the end of the regular season, Malone remains a prominent voice in NBA discussions through his coverage on ESPN. His explanations of on-field action still have fans and analysts captivated today.
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