Denver Nuggets Fire Head Coach Michael Malone, Decline to Extend GM Calvin Booth in Pre-Playoff Shakeup
In a stunning move just days before the NBA playoffs, the Denver Nuggets announced Tuesday that they have parted ways with head coach Michael Malone and will not extend the contract of general manager Calvin Booth.
Malone, 53, had been at the helm since 2015, becoming the fourth-longest-tenured coach in the NBA and leading the franchise to its first-ever NBA championship in 2023. His departure comes with just three regular-season games remaining and the Nuggets sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 47-32 record. The team, however, is on a four-game losing streak that appears to have triggered the organization’s sudden course correction.
Booth, 48, who joined the Nuggets front office in 2017 and became general manager in 2020, will remain in his role for now, but his contract will not be renewed beyond its current term. Booth was widely credited with building much of the team’s championship roster, including key draft decisions and trades.
The timing of the shakeup has raised eyebrows across the league, with many questioning whether internal tensions or concerns over the team’s recent performance played a role. The Nuggets have not yet announced who will serve as interim head coach heading into the postseason.
Despite the abrupt changes, the organization emphasized that it remains committed to competing for another title and will begin a “comprehensive search” for long-term leadership after the season concludes.
