Michael Malone’s departure from the Denver Nuggets stirred controversy because it occurred before the NBA playoffs. Several days after his dismissal, Malone broke the ice, and he sent a message publicly for the first time since his exit.

Despite being the winningest coach in franchise history and guiding the team to the 2023 championship, Michael Malone was fired by the Denver Nuggets. It was a stunning move considering the Nuggets had only three games left in the regular season when Malone and general manager Calvin Booth were fired.

What stunned people around the NBA most about the firing of coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth in Denver was not the act itself: Malone was thought to be in trouble if the Nuggets didn't make a deep playoff run,