By Jordan Long
The Denver Nuggets stand at 43-30, 1.5 games ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 6th seed in the Western Conference. Right now, this would avoid the play-in tournament. Denver takes on the Phoenix Suns tonight. Denver just announced a contract extension for Head Coach Michael Malone. Terms were not announced.
Malone was hired by the Denver Nuggets on June 15th, 2015. The Nuggets let go of Brian Shaw 59 games into the 2015 season. Shaw was a disappointing 56-85, a winning percentage of .397. Denver missed the playoffs every year with Shaw. Malone at least had NBA Head Coaching experience with the Sacramento Kings from 2013 to 24 games into the 2015 season. His record was 39-67 or a winning percentage of .368
Malone’s first year the Nuggets ended at 33-49. In 2017 there was progress as Denver finished 40-42. 2018, Denver had a chance to earn a playoff spot for the first time in 4 years. It came down to game 82 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a winner takes all. Whoever won that game went to the postseason. The Nuggets fell in overtime 112-106.
2019, Denver was a much improved team under Malone. They ended the regular season with a record of 54-28. Denver reached the postseason as the number 2 seed in the Western Conference. They knocked off the San Antonio Spurs in 7 games before falling to the Portland Trailblazers in 7 games in the second round.
2020 the season was paused for the COVID19 Pandemic. The NBA decided to finish the year in a bubble setting. Denver went 46-27 and was the 3rd seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They knocked off the L.A. Clippers and the Utah Jazz in 7 games but in both series, Denver came back from 3-1 deficits. Their season ended at the hands of the L.A. Lakers in the Western Conference Finals in 5 games. L.A. went on to win the NBA Championship.
Last year, Denver managed to earn yet another playoff spot. They ended 47-25. Denver beat the Portland Trailblazers in the first round in 6 games before being swept by the Phoenix Suns in the second round. Denver of course didn’t have point guard Jamal Murray who suffered a torn ACL on April 13th, 2021.
This year might be Malone’s best coaching job. The Nuggets stand at 43-30. They are without two top players, Michael Porter Jr., and Jamal Murray. Michael Porter Jr. was shut down after he appeared in 9 games, scoring 9.9 points per game due to his back requiring surgery. Of course, Jamal Murray is still rehabbing due to his torn ACL. The Nuggets, though, have stayed in the playoff hunt.
Denver decided to give Head Coach Michael Malone a contract extension. According to ESPN.com, Owner Stan Kroenke said, “This extension is well deserved for Coach Malone and one we are very excited to announce. You can easily point to the on-court success that Michael has brought and the improvements the team has made each year under his watch, and you can also point to the selfless, hard-working culture that has developed and grown during his tenure.”
The length of the extension wasn’t announced. Malone deserves this. His overall record in Denver is 309-237, a winning percentage of .566. His wins are third-most for a Nuggets Head Coach. He has taken the Nuggets to the postseason the last 3 years. It will be 4 this season and they hope to avoid the play-in tournament.
The Nuggets, though, want to win an NBA Championship. They feel Malone is the best coach to do that. When healthy Denver has a big three they hope will push them over the top, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr, and the best center in the game who is the reigning league MVP, Nikola Jokic. Denver would love nothing more than for Malone to coach this team to win an NBA Championship. They have never won it all in their history.
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