Josh Kroenke on Malone
In a move that no one saw comingor perhaps everyone feared in whispersthe Denver Nuggets parted ways with head coach Michael Malone, a man who helped mold the franchise into one of the NBA’s powerhouses. This decision was bound to stir the potbecause sometimes success creates its own complications. Josh Kroenke, the Nuggets’ President and Vice Chairman of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, has now stepped forward to unpack the “why” behind the surprise dismissal… and let’s just say he didn’t mince words.
Malone and the Mile High Magic
Let’s set the record straight: Michael Malone wasn’t chopped because his team tanked. Quite the opposite. Since joining the Nuggets in 2015, Malone transformed a middling roulette wheel of potential into championsliterally. That elusive 2023 NBA title didn’t fall from the Denver sky. It was forged in the fire of playoff heartbreak, strategic evolution, and the undying loyalty of Nikola Joki? to the system Malone cultivated.
Malone’s no-nonsense approach, defensive grit, and faith in his core players became a defining identity for the Nuggets. But Josh Kroenke wasn’t looking for nostalgia; he was hunting for sustainability. So when he sat down with reporters this week, his tone was equal parts respectful and resolute.
“I Love Mike, But…”
In his first public comments following the decision, Kroenke made it clear: “I love Mike MaloneI always will.” But the NBA is not a sentimental league. It’s a results business, and Kroenke believes the franchise may have hit a plateau under Malone’s leadership.
“We got to a place where we had to evaluate if this version of the Nuggets had another gear,” Kroenke said. “Ultimately, the belief across leadership was that a new perspective might unlock more upside in our current roster.”
Translation? It’s not you, Mike. It’s evolution. The team didn’t regressin fact, they posted another strong seasonbut the front office sensed the difference between returning to the mountaintop and watching others summit past you.
Reading Between the Stats
Let’s not gloss over the fact that Malone led Denver to the playoffs in each of the last six seasons. That’s no small feat in a fiercely competitive Western Conference. He shepherded the development not just of Joki?, but of key contributors like Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon.
Yet after the Nuggets exited the 2024 postseason in a Game 7 heartbreaker, the internal calculus changed. Kroenke noted that while Malone and Joki? remained close, there seemed to be “a rhythm lacking” in the latter stages of the season. Subtitle that as: great teams can still get stale.
Continuity Needs Creativity
Josh Kroenke is no stranger to high-stakes decisions. Whether it’s making executive choices for Arsenal in the Premier League or guiding the Nuggets, he’s developed a steering style that values long-term vision over short-term comfort.
He reflected on Malone’s lasting imprint: “Mike brought stability, identity, and unfiltered passion. He set the barthe next coach will be chasing that benchmark from day one.”
That said, Kroenke and Nuggets GM Calvin Booth are clearly banking on fresh voices sparking new synergies within the team. Just two years after standing at the pinnacle of the basketball world, this reset sends a clear message: every season is a referendum, and championships to some franchises are a dreamto others, an expectation.
What’s Next for Denver?
The search is underway for Malone’s successor, and guess what? This isn’t some fixer-upper job. The next coach inherits a generational center in Joki?, a proven playoff weapon in Murray, and a team culture that’s already tasted championship champagne.
But that’s also part of the pressure. As Kroenke said, “This isn’t about wholesale changes. It’s about refining our edge. We believe we’re capable of more.” One eyebrow-raising quote even hinted at potential changes in the supporting castso stay tuned for a spicy summer in the Rockies.
Malone’s Legacy Still Looms Large
There are few exits in sports that feel equally emotional and understandable. This was one of them. Malone left a fingerprint that won’t rub off anytime soon. He helped awaken a sleeping basketball city and delivered on promises that felt further than the thin Denver air would allow.
Josh Kroenke understands the optics. He addressed Malone directly in his remarks: “I didn’t want this to end right now. But the job I’ve been tasked with is not maintaining comfortit’s chasing greatness. Mike was a huge part of our success, and always will be.”
The Verdict
In professional sports, timing is everything. And sometimes, pulling the trigger on a difficult decision is the very move that sustains relevancy. The Nuggets didn’t lose belief in Malonethey simply outgrew the framework he built. There’s honor in that. There’s also danger in it, which is what makes Denver’s next step so fascinating.
For now, the Malone era ends with more respect than regret. For Kroenke, the message is clear: either create the next dynasty chapter, or watch someone else write it.
