As the NBA regular season comes to a close and teams begin to solidify their playoff positioning, the Denver Nuggets organization has made a shocking decision to overhaul their leadership. Despite holding a respectable 47-32 record and sitting fourth in the highly competitive Western Conference, the Nuggets have fired their head coach Michael Malone. This unexpected move has left many fans and analysts puzzled, but former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins believes there is more to the story than meets the eye.
Perkins, who played for the Boston Celtics when they won the NBA championship in 2008, recently shared his thoughts on the Nuggets’ decision to fire Malone. In an interview with ESPN, Perkins revealed that he believes the Nuggets’ star player, Nikola Jokic, was the driving force behind Malone’s firing. According to Perkins, Jokic was not happy with Malone’s coaching style and felt that a change was necessary for the team to reach their full potential.
While this may come as a surprise to many, it is not uncommon for star players to have a say in the coaching decisions of their team. After all, they are the ones on the court and have a firsthand experience of how the team is functioning. Jokic, who is widely regarded as one of the best centers in the league, has been the cornerstone of the Nuggets’ success in recent years. It is understandable that the organization would want to keep their star player happy and satisfied.
However, this decision has not been well-received by many fans and analysts. Malone has been with the Nuggets since 2015 and has helped turn the team into a playoff contender. Under his leadership, the Nuggets have made the playoffs in each of the last three seasons and have shown significant improvement each year. In fact, this season, they were on pace to have their best record since the 2012-2013 season.
So why would the Nuggets make such a drastic move when they are on the cusp of a successful playoff run? According to Perkins, it all comes down to Jokic’s approval. The star center is known for his unselfish play and team-first mentality, and it is clear that he wants what is best for the team. If he believes that a coaching change is necessary for the team to reach their full potential, then the organization must trust his judgment.
Of course, this is all speculation, and the Nuggets have not officially confirmed that Jokic played a role in Malone’s firing. However, it is clear that the team is fully behind their star player and wants to do everything in their power to keep him happy. This move may seem risky, but it shows that the Nuggets are committed to building a winning team and are willing to make difficult decisions to achieve that goal.
As the Nuggets prepare for the playoffs, it will be interesting to see how this coaching change affects the team. Assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. has been named the interim head coach, and it will be up to him to lead the team to success. With the playoffs just around the corner, the Nuggets will need to quickly adjust to this new leadership and continue their strong performance on the court.
In conclusion, the Denver Nuggets’ decision to fire Michael Malone may have come as a shock to many, but former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins believes there is more to the story. It is clear that star player Nikola Jokic played a significant role in this decision, and the organization is fully committed to keeping him happy. As the Nuggets gear up for the playoffs, all eyes will be on them to see how this coaching change affects their performance. One thing is for sure, the Nuggets are determined to do whatever it takes to bring a championship to Denver.
