Late Sunday night, the Denver Nuggets dropped an odds-defying bombshell. They sacked head coach Michael Malone and then-general manager Calvin Booth amidst rising discord within the franchise. The Kroenke family, owners of the team, moved to sue both men. They demanded that they be held accountable for allowing their personal issues to damage the franchise’s competitive integrity and employee morale. The surprising move comes as the Nuggets find themselves under new pressure to leverage superstar Nikola Jokic’s prime years with multiple championship wins.
For starters, the team is coming off a brutal four-game losing streak. This dismal showing has brought even more pressure and attention onto the coaching staff and front office. The Kroenkes are reportedly seeking to salvage the remainder of the season by squeezing out every possible effort from the team. His ceiling is so incredibly high, and the organization is clearly committed to Jokic. His intensely felt loyalty to Denver in the face of outside speculation about his future makes this urgency even more acute.
Malone was granted an extension for winning the Nuggets their first-ever championship. Over the last few weeks, though, he’s been highly critical of the team and its struggles. He said he was tired of seeing no effort, no pride from guys in big moments. Eleven games left, and that’s the performance we give?” Malone said following one of those especially discouraging efforts. His famously blunt, sometimes abrasive style rubbed players the wrong way on several occasions, furthering a toxic divide that would eventually lead to his firing.
Its strong indications that a “cold war” had emerged between Malone and Booth, forcing an unhealthy rift internal and harming team chemistry. As one plugged-in source told us, “It creates a toxic atmosphere … You can’t be productive in those conditions.” The Kroenkes felt that taking Malone and Booth out of the equation would allow the players to focus on their jobs. They expected that this amendment would relieve the weight of open grievances.
This decision did not come easily, as the Kroenkes had given Booth a contract extension in the offseason. But as the season wore on, it was obvious that to be successful that the peace in the clubhouse/organization was imperative. It seems likely that the ever-ambitious Kroenkes would prefer a brand new start. Their unwillingness to renew contracts for assistant coaches speaks to this desire.
As sincere as Jokic’s feelings for the Nuggets have been, he has been only too cognizant of what has simmered underneath. “Josh received the response that he was looking for,” Jokic said, referring to the changes that have started with the Kroenkes. He proposed that Malone’s truthful and often harsh criticisms were essential, even if they fostered discomfort within the locker room.
The ripple effect of these high profile firings will go much further than championship coaching decisions. Whether it’s by vocalizing or demonstrating, players have made no secret of their misery under the current conditions. This has fueled speculation about their motivations and mindset playing out on the court. The mood of the players was freakin’ miserable, man,” said the team insider.
To continue their goal of getting better, there are several factors that led to the Nuggets’ struggles that they’ll have to avoid going forward. Fellow underclassman and indomitable forward Nnaji’s effectiveness fluctuated dramatically depending on where he was stationed on the floor. Though troubling, this fluctuation uncovers potential tactical misalignments that need to be resolved.
It actually could be a very difficult road ahead for the Nuggets. They need to coalesce around Jokic and maximize his phenomenal talents! With a new direction in leadership, there is hope that the team can refocus and capitalize on its remaining opportunities this season.
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