The Denver Nuggets arguably have the best player in the NBA in Nikola Jokic. Jokic is a three-time league MVP winner, with many thinking he should’ve won a fourth the year that Philadelphia 76ers star won the award.
However, despite Jokic’s greatness, the Nuggets are only 47-32 in the season, which is good for fourth place in the Western Conference. While fourth isn’t a horrible place to be in the standings, it’s a long way off from where Denver would like to be with a talent such as Jokic on the roster and in his prime.
Now, it looks like the team’s mediocrity is coming with some consequences, according to one prominent NBA insider.
“BREAKING: The Denver Nuggets have fired coach Michael Malone, sources tell ESPN,” reported ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Fans reacted to the brutal news that Jokic would be heading into the playoffs with a new coach on social media.
“no job security despite being the winningest coach in franchise history and also winning the only championship in franchise history is nuts,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“This is what happens when you prioritize farming on/offs and triple doubles over winning rotations,” another fan added.
“I can’t say Malone has done a good job this year, but the timing of this definitely feels like a prayer to try anything to save the season. Ultra-competitive West has teams going crazy & doing shit we’ve never seen. Two coaches fired within weeks of the playoffs is nuts,” another fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see who replaces Malone.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.