🚨 End of an Era: Nuggets Fire Malone and Booth Amid Culture Collapse
DENVER — Just two years after lifting their first NBA championship, the Denver Nuggets have imploded from within. The team shocked the league by firing head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth with just three games left in the 2024–25 regular season.
The decision wasn’t about standings — it was about culture, clashing egos, and a team unraveling under the pressure of expectations.
⚠️ What Went Wrong: Cold War Behind Closed Doors
According to multiple team and league sources, the Nuggets’ downfall stems from a toxic feud between Malone and Booth:
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Staff and players felt divided into factions
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On-court chemistry deteriorated
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Viral moments of player bickering and disengagement made headlines
“Everybody in the organization was miserable,” one source told ESPN. “You can’t operate like that.”
🧨 Kroenke’s Breaking Point
Team president Josh Kroenke was reportedly ready to make changes as early as the All-Star break, but delayed action during an 8-game win streak.
After a 4-game skid, he acted swiftly — firing both key figures to remove what he saw as organizational rot.
“When dissension devolves into factions, both sides have to lose,” one source explained.
🃏 Jokic: The Quiet Catalyst
While Nikola Jokić never publicly voiced discontent, sources say he’d grown increasingly frustrated by:
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Drama off the court
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Ego-fueled standoffs
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A shift away from the team-first culture he thrived in
He was the only player briefed before the firings.
“He lets you know how he feels — without saying anything,” a team insider shared.
Jokić is extension-eligible for $212M this summer. While expected to re-sign, any hesitation could shake the franchise to its core.
🤜🤛 Booth vs. Malone: Vision Clash Turns Personal
Malone’s approach:
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Keep the veteran championship core (Bruce Brown, KCP, Jeff Green)
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Bring young players in gradually
Booth’s philosophy:
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Build for longevity and affordability
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Develop players like Christian Braun, Peyton Watson, Julian Strawther
“If you’re one of Calvin’s guys, Malone doesn’t want to play you,” said one source.
Players began feeling like their minutes were chess pieces in an internal power struggle.
💸 Ownership’s Role: Loyalty to Stars, Not Staff
Despite offering Booth an extension, Kroenke eventually pulled the deal, citing philosophical misalignment.
“The Kroenkes don’t pay front office guys,” said one league exec. “They think they can find a GM faster than another Jokić.”
🧠 Enter David Adelman: Reset From Within
Longtime assistant David Adelman is now interim coach — and a player favorite.
“I wanted to hear their voices, not mine,” Adelman said after a key win.
Players like Christian Braun praised the shift:
“Probably our best game of the year for communication.”
🏁 What’s Next for Denver?
With three games left, the Nuggets sit 4th in the West — but a single loss could send them into the play-in.
The short-term plan:
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Reconnect emotionally as a team
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Let Adelman re-center the locker room around Jokić
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Survive the playoffs
The long-term mission:
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Rebuild a front office and coaching staff aligned in vision and values
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Keep Jokić fully engaged
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Restore the championship culture they once had
“We have the best player in the world,” one official said. “We take that very seriously.”
Denver is betting everything on a cultural reset — one they hope saves a dynasty that still has time to be reborn.
