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.

Yes, the Nuggets are the reigning champions. Nonetheless, even prior to game two, Mike Malone clearly felt a collapse might be coming. Even with home court advantage, something has been amiss for the 2023 title winners, and Denver’s failure to launch on Monday night was predicted by their own head coach.

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are superstars at the highest level, but the combination of Karl Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards had them scratching their heads for answers far more often than not during game one.

Jokic looked winded and Murray simply could not guard the much more athletic Edwards. While the former established his presence despite being at a size disadvantage, the latter looked every bit the part of Michael Jordan.

Mike Malone Sounds Off

If the Nuggets were going to make this a series against the Timberwolves then Michael Malone knew things had to change. Fearing a collapse coming for the reigning champs, he put the pressure on his stars to play up to their abilities. Speaking with reporters following the game one debacle, he needed to see more.

“At some point, man, you’ve got to stop doing the same things. We have to do a better job — and our stars, in particular — have to do a better job of being ready to play, of setting the tone early. What are we waiting for? Now, we’re down 0-1 — like, what are you waiting for? We all know that going back to Minnesota down 0-2 is not the ideal situation, so I think (on Monday) night to start the game, you’ll have your answer. And if we come out the same way — lackadaisical, not physical, not urgent — well, then there’s an issue there, a deeper lying issue than just stopping Anthony Edwards. Where is our mental (state) at? And I fully expect our guys to be ready to go tomorrow night. I’d be shocked if they weren’t.”

Mike Malone in a press conference before game 2 (quote via The Athletic)

Shocked is What Malone Gets

Expecting his guys to step up following a lackluster game one, his Denver Nuggets instead came out flat yet again. At one point, Minnesota mounted as much as a 32 point lead and, again, they did it without the DPOY lock in the same state. And in the aftermath of game 2, Mike Malone’s comments hours before tip, now seem like foreshadowing of what was to come.

Related: Stephen A. Smith Jumps on Timberwolves Bandwagon

The combination of Towns and Edwards both poured in 27 points a piece, and Naz Reid went off with Nickeil Alexander Walker to put up 14 each from the bench. Head coach Chris Finch was able to empty his bench with multiple minutes left to play, and both Josh Minott amd :uka Garza found their way onto the court during playoff action. The advantage that was supposed to be Denver’s home court had been thwarted, and the Timberwolves return home up 2-0.

"Anthony Edwards comes in early and leaves late..

He demands the most out of his teammates and he competes every day..

It's all happening for him right now and he loves the game of basketball" ~ @mconley11#PMSLive #WolvesBack pic.twitter.com/XDI5FpB42o

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 7, 2024

A Homecoming for Minnesota

After sweeping the Phoenix Suns as the higher seed during the first round, the Minnesota Timberwolves are now in position to make the collapse Mike Malone felt coming work to fruition. They are in control of the series not heading back to Denver, and a raucous Target Center should be the expectation for Friday night’s matchup. Not only that, but this Wolves team has taken the league by storm during this NBA Playoff run, and d

Related: Stephen A. Smith Crowns Timberwolves as NBA Champs After Dominating Nuggets in Game 2

National analysts like Stephen A. Smith (ESPN) were on the Timberwolves before game two got underway, and the talk has since turned to them being full-blown championship contenders. While the franchise has been marred in futility for much of its existence, this is clearly a different animal. Rather than being the butt of the collapse, they are orchestrating it.

Anthony Edwards with some strong words heading into Game 3. Letting it be known that the Nuggets are going to punch but they will be punching right back. pic.twitter.com/Dz7xh2TTkt

— SneakerReporter (@SneakerReporter) May 7, 2024