Why did Nuggets fire Michael Malone? Revisiting 2025 decision that led to coach landing UNC job
Here's a look back at why the Nuggets fired Malone last year.
Why did Nuggets fire Michael Malone? Revisiting 2025 decision that led to coach landing UNC job originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
North Carolina made a shocking decision on Monday by hiring Michael Malone as the school's new head basketball coach. Malone was a long-time NBA coach, who recently was extremely successful with the Denver Nuggets for 10 years. However, while Malone won an NBA title in Denver, the organization opted to move on from him last Spring before the season ended.
Just as this hiring is surprising, Malone's firing last year was even more of a shocker, as it happened right before the NBA playoffs began. However, Denver made the bold move to have an inexperienced coach lead the team in the playoffs over Malone. Here's a look back at why the Nuggets fired Malone in 2025.
MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more Why did Nuggets fire Michael Malone? The Nuggets fired Michael Malone in 2025 just weeks before the playoffs began. At the time, the Nuggets and Malone had a "strained relationship" that led to the shocking decision, according to The Athletic .