NBA's Post-2020 Coaching Roster Becomes Four after Michael Malone's Dismissal, Leaving Scant Pre-2020 Hires Remaining
*In a surprising turn of events, the *Denver Nuggets have shown the door to coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth, just under two years after guiding the team to its maiden NBA championship.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, sparked a wave of surprise across NBA circles, especially considering the Nuggets' current position in the Western Conference playoff race with only three games left in the season. They are placed fourth, vying for better playoff positioning.
Josh Kroenke, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment vice chairman, released a statement saying, "This decision wasn't made impulsively and underwent thorough evaluation. Our intention is to empower our team with the best possible chance to compete for the 2025 NBA Championship and secure another victory for Denver fans."
Malone had inked a two-year contract extension back in November 2023, following the championship win in June of the same year. This deal was set to commence with the 2025-26 season, boasting an annual salary of $12 million. The agreement came after the NBA coaching market saw a significant remodeling when the Detroit Pistons recruited Monty Williams with a six-year, $78.5 million contract in the summer of 2023. Before Williams, only one coach earned $10 million a year, with this number swelling to eight by the 2024-25 season.
Malone ranked fifth among the highest-paid NBA coaches, with Steve Kerr leading the pack at $17.5 million per year. A total of 13 NBA coaches graced the list of the 50 highest-paid coaches across all sports last year.
Nearing the end of his tenure with the Nuggets, Malone amassed 471 wins, surpassing Doug Moe for the most wins in the franchise history in November. His NBA coaching journey commenced back in 2015 after a brief stint with the Sacramento Kings, producing eight consecutive winning seasons.
As of now, Michael Malone and Taylor Jenkins (recently let go by the Memphis Grizzlies) are the only coaches who were recruited by their current teams before 2020. The list of surviving coaches who fit the "before 2020" bill consists of:
- Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat, who has been part of the team since 2008.
- Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, who joined the Warriors in 2014.
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Thibodeau, who was hired by the Knicks in 2020, does not officially qualify as a "before 2020" coach. However, it's intriguing to note that Billy Donovan, who became the Chicago Bulls' coach in 2020, and Tyronn Lue, who took charge of the Clippers the same year, did not fulfill the "before 2020" requirements either. Thus, as things stand, besides Spoelstra and Kerr, there aren't any other active coaches who were recruited prior to 2020.
In light of the Denver Nuggets' shakeup, Josh Kroenke stated an intention to create a stronger roster competing for the 2025 NBA Championship, potentially opening up opportunities for coaches experienced in basketball, such as Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat who commenced coaching with the team since 2008, and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors, who joined in 2014, both fitting the "before 2020" category.
