Josh Kroenke, the owner of the Denver Nuggets, just unveiled an innovative new plan for his team’s front office. This is happening on the heels of very big changes in leadership. The team organization took the massive and somewhat unexpected step of firing their general manager Calvin Booth as well as head coach Michael Malone. This decision comes with just three games remaining in the regular season. David Adelman has taken over in his absence as interim coach, and he’ll have the huge challenge of leading this team through a difficult transitional period.
Kroenke said he was committed to taking a more active role after the Nuggets front office strives to remake their roster. The new front-office structure puts Kroenke front and center. He now works with Ben Tenzer, the new executive vice president of basketball operations, and Chris Wallace, the new executive VP of player personnel. Together, they aim to enhance the team’s depth surrounding key players like Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Christian Braun.
The Nuggets, who recently reached the second round of the playoffs under Adelman before losing in seven games to the Oklahoma City Thunder, are looking to build on their success. According to Kroenke, the team plans to offer Jokic a full maximum extension this summer. On the surface, it appears to be a good move to secure their star player for the long haul.
Kroenke acknowledged the challenges in today’s environment for professional sports and the delicate nature of deal-making. He noted that, “From the outside looking in, sometimes people have a false sense of how things actually go down in the professional sports world.” He highlighted the importance of relationships in navigating the NBA landscape, stating, “Sometimes, that’s owner talking to owner. Sometimes, that’s president talking to president.”
Ben Tenzer is starting his 17th season with the Nuggets. He’ll be the one in charge as far as the team’s salary cap and general makeup goes. He expressed his commitment to building a competitive roster, saying, “We’re always going to look at everything and be aggressive to make the best roster we can.” Tenzer noted that “synergy and collaboration is always key for every organization,” reflecting the team’s focus on cohesive operations.
Wallace brings strong connections from his experience around the league to help the Nuggets’ recruitment efforts. His job is to further leverage these relationships to identify talent that aligns with the team’s vision and needs.
In explaining the team’s long-term strategy, Kroenke made it clear that their strategy goes against the grain. He remarked, “Most everything that has gotten us to this point has been unorthodox.” Jokic himself is the living example of this philosophy. Drafted by the White Sox as the 41st overall pick, he plays kind of an unorthodox game. Kroenke decided that “the unorthodox was the only way to go” in her strategy, highlighting their openness to pursue creative approaches.
With Hall now gone, Kroenke is stepping into a more active leadership role. His goal is to give each of his team members the confidence to assume their responsibilities with boldness. “I’m going to be around … as these guys are assuming their roles, making sure things are moving smoothly,” he stated. Like any authorizing leader, he understands the value of giving his troops freedom to maneuver. “At a certain point, I’m not saying I let go of the rope, but you have to let people do their jobs… I think they complement each other really well,” he added.
The Nuggets clearly like DaRon Holmes II’s upside as well. He was a first-round pick a year ago, but lost the entire season after surgery on his Achilles tendon. The organization is high on his potential and is optimistic he can help at the major league level when he’s completely healthy.
As the Denver Nuggets navigate this transformative phase under Kroenke’s leadership, they remain focused on building a stronger team capable of competing at higher levels while fostering a culture of collaboration and innovative thinking.
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