Former Timberwolves Assistant Takes Over Nuggets Coaching Duties…

The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Denver Nuggets last week. Before the game, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone suggested that the Wolves get extra motivated to face his team. Maybe he’s right, but it doesn’t matter for him anymore.

Similarly to the Memphis Grizzles firing of Taylor Jenkins a couple of weeks ago, the Nuggets sent shockwaves through NBA circles Tuesday when ownership fired both Malone and GM Calvin Booth, just two years removed from an NBA Finals win and fresh off six-straight Western Conference Finals appearances or better.

Full clean out: The Denver Nuggets are also firing general manager Calvin Booth, sources tell ESPN. Michael Malone and Booth both out today. pic.twitter.com/FvqOAFyOKy

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025

Minnesota Timberwolves former assistant promoted in Denver after Nuggets clean house

Denver could have gone a couple of different directions in the “post-Malone” era (no pun intended). In fact, the Nuggets had two former Minnesota Timberwolves coaches to choose from. David Adelman — a former Wolves assistant and son of former head coach Rick Adelman — was the final choice, over former Minnesota head coach, Ryan Saunders, who remains on Adelman’s staff, at least for now.

Malone was hired as the head coach for Denver prior to the 2015 season. He owned a 798-471 record across 10 seasons walking the Nuggets’ sideline. Entering the day, Denver is 4th in an incredibly tight Western Conference playoff picture.

The Denver Nuggets have relieved Head Coach Michael Malone of his duties and will not extend General Manager Calvin Booth.

David Adelman will assume our head coaching role for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Full Release: https://t.co/d176KtKK5w pic.twitter.com/dMYlxIqoCl

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 8, 2025

Michael Malone was originally hired by now Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations, Tim Connelly, who ran the Nuggets from 2013-2022 as GM and eventually PoBO, before Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore called him up and convinced him to switch Western Conference allegiances.

Calvin Booth, who was also fired today, worked under Connell from 2017-2020, and was promoted when his former boss left. Even more intriguing, Calvin Booth worked for the Timberwolves front office from 2013-2017, before leaving for Denver.

Nuggets choose David Adelman over Ryan Saunders

Adelman began his professional career as a player development coach for the MN Timberwolves back in 2011. He was with Minnesota for five seasons, before stopping in Orlando, then Denver, where he has spent the past eight seasons on Malone’s staff.

It will be up to the 43-year-old former assistant — with zero head coaching experience — to guide Denver into and through what Nuggets fans hope will be another deep postseason run. Last year, the Timberwolves downed the Nuggets in an epic seven-game series that thwarted their repeat attempt. It’s very plausible that the two teams see each other again this spring, maybe even in the first round.

Former Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders is also on the Nuggets staff. Despite previous head coaching experience, he was passed over as the replacement for Malone. Saunders started his career in Washington as an assistant and joined his dad Flip in Minnesota.

Related: Confirmed: Timberwolves’ Trade Interest in NBA Superstar is Mutual

Saunders took over the lead role in Minnesota to start the 2018 season. His dad had died three years earlier, and the franchise continued to watch Ryan grow on his own. Unfortunately, as a head coach, Saunders led the Timberwolves to a 43-94 record across three seasons.

Given the amount of youth on his side, it’s likely that Saunders will land another head coaching gig at some point. There was some talk he could be in play for the Minnesota Gophers position, but wisely Mark Coyle grabbed an experienced Niko Medved instead.