Nuggets fire Michael Malone and Calvin Booth

[LeBowen]

Well, just when we thought we've seen everything...what a season.


https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1909659154756841864

[Mugen]

Wow tbh.

[BatManu20]

Surprised by the timing but this was inevitable. Writing was on the wall. Calvin Booth should be fired next once Denver is inevitably eliminated in the playoffs due to poor roster construction.

[djohn2oo8]

Fuck Phoenix. Give me Jokic big dawg!!!!

[LeBowen]

I was kind of sure this was his last season, but to do it a week before the playoffs? Some of these franchises don't deserve anything.
Unless Jokic told them Malone needs to go, it's a really questionable move.

If Nuggets take Jenkins from us...

[BatManu20]

I still prefer Jenkins over Malone any day of the week as Pop's successor, but I assume Malone will be scooped up quickly by someone this offseason.

[BatManu20]

Surprised by the timing but this was inevitable. Writing was on the wall. Calvin Booth should be fired next once Denver is inevitably eliminated in the playoffs due to poor roster construction.

Nevermind, Booth is gone too :lol

[LeBowen]

Damn, Jokic must've sent his brothers to clear house. :lol

[Leetonidas]

Wtf is going on in the NBA lately :lol this guy actually won Denver a championship too. It's not his fault the roster outside of Jokic is ass. Blame ownership for failing Jokic and handing out max deals to undeserving players like Porter Jr and Murray

[Bill_Brasky]

That's fucked up. I'm not really a fan of his but there's not really any advantage to doing it now. Classless move imo.

[ace3g]

Spurs have the ability to create a super team of NBA coaching staff next season.

[LeBowen]

Spurs have the ability to create a super team of NBA coaching staff next season.

You're going to have Pop back with Brett Brown as the lead assistant and you're going to like it.

[BatManu20]

Spurs have the ability to create a super team of NBA coaching staff next season.

:pop: "Not on my watch"

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Jenkins and Malone available. And we'll run it back with a geriatric stroke survivor because of feelings.

[spurraider21]

they fired Booth too

[Mal]

GM deserved, most of the deals he signed are brutal. Coach - well idk

[spurraider21]

we like what we have :pop:

[Bill_Brasky]

Well I guess it makes sense to get rid of both and get a fresh start. Still not good timing imo. Basically punting their post season chances.

[Ice009]

WTF. What a crazy season.

Where would you guys rank Malone on the list? How would you compare him to Taylor Jenkins?

Also, curious if Jokic wanted him gone? If not, then maybe Spurs should hire Malone and try and get Jokic to request a trade here ;).

[LeBowen]

Will be interesting to see what happens with that roster over the summer.
Noone except Jokic is safe. Maybe Gordon.

Murray and MPJ need to go, but they don't have much value due to their contracts.

[Mal]

Will be interesting to see what happens with that roster over the summer.
Noone except Jokic is safe. Maybe Gordon.

Murray and MPJ need to go, but they don't have much value due to their contracts.

Just watch Durant going to Denver for MPJ

[LeBowen]

Just watch Durant going to Denver for MPJ

Wouldn't be the worst thing, tbh.

Reading through some stuff and it seems that Murray could be out for the playoffs, they have no chance without him. Maybe Jokic wins a couple of games, but winning a series with that bunch of scrubs would be one of the greatest feats ever.

He should get them a Serbian coach, tbh. It's not like there are many good domestic options out there and Serbs seem to know their basketball.

[spurraider21]

imo the stat that got him fired

1908278139546963980

[Jordan Jackson]

Good. Don’t over pay middling role players. Booth is a goof.

The coach was a weasel who talked behind his bosses backs. Can’t be trusted. Did the same shit with the Kings.

If Joker says you gotta go - then I want no parts of you either.

[BatManu20]

Just watch Durant going to Denver for MPJ

Would be beneficial for both parties but does nothing to fix their defensive issues. They have almost no defenders and rim protectors on that roster.

[LkrFan]

Fuck Phoenix. Give me Jokic big dawg!!!!

Not so fast mi amigo
1909663254546464867

Josh Kroenke owns the LA Rams so we all know what that means. :downspin:

[LkrFan]

That's fucked up. I'm not really a fan of his but there's not really any advantage to doing it now. Classless move imo.

Yeah, I feel really badly for the Lakers Daddy. :cry

[LeBowen]

Would be beneficial for both parties but does nothing to fix their defensive issues. They have almost no defenders and rim protectors on that roster.

They were fine with Bruce Brown, KCP and Gordon in the lineup.
Their main priority should be finding a point of attack defender.
Then a second option that's consistent and healthy. Murray is the definition of unreliable.

[Robz4000]

:lmao

[LkrFan]

WTF. What a crazy season.

Where would you guys rank Malone on the list? How would you compare him to Taylor Jenkins?

Also, curious if Jokic wanted him gone? If not, then maybe Spurs should hire Malone and try and get Jokic to request a trade here ;).

-250 points. Joker for Wemby doesn't work on the trade machine son. :lol

[LeBowen]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GoB52JzXEAA2pN9?format=jpg&name=medium

[Ice009]

Not so fast mi amigo
1909663254546464867

Josh Kroenke owns the LA Rams so we all know what that means. :downspin:

Are you going to trade Luka for him? Who or what draft picks do you have to trade for him?

[BatManu20]

Hopefully this wasn't the Nuggets trying to get a head start on going after Taylor Jenkins while the Spurs stand around with their dicks in their hands waiting to see what Pop decides.

[djohn2oo8]

Not so fast mi amigo
1909663254546464867

Josh Kroenke owns the LA Rams so we all know what that means. :downspin:
Jeanie ain’t giving up White boy Reeves so you can dead that shit lmao

[spurraider21]

Jeanie ain’t giving up White boy Reeves so you can dead that shit lmao
Hachimura and 2 firsts

[itzsoweezee]

What a dumpster fire of a franchise. Let’stake Jokic off their hands. Just need to get him to publicly announce that he wants out

[Das Texan]

This is an idiotic NBA trend that needs to stop immediately.

[LkrFan]

Jeanie ain’t giving up White boy Reeves so you can dead that shit lmao

Sheeiiit! Luka haven't signed an extension yet. Not even Austin safe if Joker is obtainable. :lol

[LkrFan]

This is an idiotic NBA trend that needs to stop immediately.

O'RLY
1909679192377000207
:downspin: this shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! :rollin :lmao :rollin

[LkrFan]

Are you going to trade Luka for him? Who or what draft picks do you have to trade for him?

A combo of Austin Reaves Vando Rui and Gabe Vincent will git er done (+ picks, etc.).

Before you farmers doubt the possibility, Kwame for MVPau and the Luka trade comes to mind.

:)

[LkrFan]

Hachimura and 2 firsts

Works for me :toast

[LkrFan]

1909678905142682059

I thought this was Centel at first :lmao

[LkrFan]

:lol Karl Malone
:lol Post Malone
:lol Joker might be gone

Lakers in 5! :lmao

[RC_Drunkford]

and just like that we have a bunch of coaching candidates. I'd pick Jenkins over Malone, but would be fine with either. Let's hope Pop stops holding the franchise hostage.

[CGD]

Forget Jenkins, go get this guy

[scott]

I guess punting your season right before the playoffs is a thing now. Weird.

[Ice009]

I'm guessing the Nuggets consulted Jokic before doing this, right? They wouldn't have been stupid enough to do it without running it by Jokic first, would they? Jokic has had a historic season and It seems like you're torpedoing your season just before the playoffs. I'd love to know his opinion on this move this close to the playoffs.

And yeah, firing a coach right before the playoffs is absolutely stupid. Is the league paying the Grizzlies and Nuggets to do this. It seems to give the Lakers and Warriors direct advantages coming up to the playoffs. If you were going to do this, it needed to be done at least 2 months before the playoffs to give the team and a new coach time to adjust.

[ChumpDumper]

Yeah this only makes sense if Jokic wanted him gone. Yeah, they've been dogshit on D all season but they haven't really been healthy all year either to be able to establish a rotation where, among other things, Russ could conceivably run an offense the eight minutes Jokic will be off the floor in the playoffs.

Now I'm thinking the lineup against the Spurs was dictated from above to show how crappy the rest of the roster is; the result is the justification for cleaning house.

Still though -- it probably won't get better in two weeks with a new coach.

[CorrectCrusader]

NBA teams have to be the most poorly ran organizations in sports.

[Jordan Jackson]

The Nuggets weren’t going anywhere. It made no difference - now, tomorrow, next month. Didn’t matter.

I follow the Nuggets and I heard Joker say a few months ago paraphrasing - “there is no on/off switch. There is no switch for a team. You are what you are”

That was red flag to me he didn’t believe in the roster.

This isn’t happening with Jokić giving it a yes. It was done with him in mind. Bob Meyers is out there - that’s a good hire. Then let him choose his coach with Jokers input.

MPJ and Murray should be out the door next but their contracts are horrid.

[T Park]

Hopefully this wasn't the Nuggets trying to get a head start on going after Taylor Jenkins while the Spurs stand around with their dicks in their hands waiting to see what Pop decides.

I’d rather have Malone than Jenkins

[heyheymymy]

man what is going on lol

[BatManu20]

The Nuggets weren’t going anywhere. It made no difference - now, tomorrow, next month. Didn’t matter.

I follow the Nuggets and I heard Joker say a few months ago paraphrasing - “there is no on/off switch. There is no switch for a team. You are what you are”

That was red flag to me he didn’t believe in the roster.

This isn’t happening with Jokić giving it a yes. It was done with him in mind. Bob Meyers is out there - that’s a good hire. Then let him choose his coach with Jokers input.

MPJ and Murray should be out the door next but their contracts are horrid.

This is the problem. These two guys alone eat up 50% of their cap. Two bad contracts that will be difficult to move. Not sure how DEN gets out of this one tbh. MPJ + a ton of draft capital for KD maybe? PHX can likely get a much better return for HOU though. Will be interesting to see how this plays out this Summer.

[tonight...you]

I like seeing LkrFan happy and posting.
More chances of me seeing that hotness grinding back and forth, tbh.

[The Truth #6]

I don't know any of the details, but I'm going to assume the ownership sucks.

[Jordan Jackson]

This is the problem. These two guys alone eat up 50% of their cap. Two bad contracts that will be difficult to move. Not sure how DEN gets out of this one tbh. MPJ + a ton of draft capital for KD maybe? PHX can likely get a much better return for HOU though. Will be interesting to see how this plays out this Summer.

I honestly don’t know how they move those contracts in this new environment. Just stupid contracts to begin with given their durability and lack of defense.

Might have to trade for an equally toxic contract but with less years? Beal? Really don’t know.

This needs to be a cautionary tale for the Spurs though.

[Arcadian]

How did the players feel about him? Any issues in the locker room?

[itzsoweezee]

I’d rather have Malone than Jenkins

I think I agree. On the other hand, Malone is kind of a hot heat and Jenkins is the opposite

[LkrFan]

I like seeing LkrFan happy and posting.
More chances of me seeing that hotness grinding back and forth, tbh.

:toast

But if you farmers "luck up and get Flagg" I'm going back downstairs. :lol

[LeBowen]

I don't want Malone, tbh.
I don't like his victim complex and all the media antics.

I've been rooting for the Nuggets in the playoffs ever since we started tanking and he's not a great coach.
Yeah, this season he had very little to work with, but even when they won the ring non-Jokic minutes were just atrocious.

I'd much rather have Jenkins.

[TD 21]

Hard pass and can't envision the Spurs thinking differently. Not only not "part of the family" (whether it should or not, it'd be naive to think it won't matter), but without his best player in the world/lowest maintenance superstar since Duncan shield, he's a short shelf life type, with his toxic, Hurley like personality.

Who knows, but my sense is Pop, followed by Johnson or maybe Budenholzer are the candidates next season and beyond.

[Chillen]

Pointless firing of Malone. The GM I get but no point in firing the head coach with just like 3 or 4 games left in the season.

[dn0774]

Pointless firing of Malone. The GM I get but no point in firing the head coach with just like 3 or 4 games left in the season.

I bet it was a “it’s him or me” situation between Booth and Malone and ownership said “neither”.

[John B]

I thought Nuggets was going to be the next Spurs with a grounded franchise player, and seemingly no drama, just good basketball.

[spursistan]

Hard pass and can't envision the Spurs thinking differently. Not only not "part of the family" (whether it should or not, it'd be naive to think it won't matter), but without his best player in the world/lowest maintenance superstar since Duncan shield, he's a short shelf life type, with his toxic, Hurley like personality.

Who knows, but my sense is Pop, followed by Johnson or maybe Budenholzer are the candidates next season and beyond.
All of this :tu. Too much of a narcissist, whiney and self-important figure. I suspect he will turn into 'journeyman coach' after this..

Budenholzer seems like a good middle-ground for our particular case. I think he is getting the axe at the end of the season; owners are too emboldened at this moment as they keep shifting the blame by cycling through coaches.

[Mr. Body]

Both Jenkins and Malone got a ton out of shaky rosters.

[spursistan]

Yeah this only makes sense if Jokic wanted him gone. Yeah, they've been dogshit on D all season but they haven't really been healthy all year either to be able to establish a rotation where, among other things, Russ could conceivably run an offense the eight minutes Jokic will be off the floor in the playoffs.

Now I'm thinking the lineup against the Spurs was dictated from above to show how crappy the rest of the roster is; the result is the justification for cleaning house.

Still though -- it probably won't get better in two weeks with a new coach.

This is has to be the case. This is one of the few historical instances of "X player made the franchise" up there with Jordan/Bulls, Dirk/Mavs, Lebron/Cavs. Which is interesting in a way, what made Jokic flip at this critical moment?

[spurraider21]

Malone would be an upgrade to what we have now, but I'd rather have Jenkins or Vogel. then id say Malone/Bud is the next tier

[mo7888]

My want list:
1. Snyder
2. Jenkins
3. Malone
4. Bud

[spurraider21]

My want list:
1. Snyder
2. Jenkins
3. Malone
4. Bud
id agree with this, and id slide Vogel into 3. but i dont see snyder becomign available. we shall see

[itzsoweezee]

I don't want Malone, tbh.
I don't like his victim complex and all the media antics.

I've been rooting for the Nuggets in the playoffs ever since we started tanking and he's not a great coach.
Yeah, this season he had very little to work with, but even when they won the ring non-Jokic minutes were just atrocious.

I'd much rather have Jenkins.

I don’t think the nuggets have had an all star on their roster other than Jokic during malone’s tenure, so I don’t know how you can fault Malone for relying on Jokic. That franchise has been mismanaged for years. And unlike Jenkins, Malone has had success in the playoffs. So I’d rather go with the guy that’s gone through the deep postseason runs. Either would be an improvement over the spurs’ current situation

[LeBowen]

Idk about Snyder, 36-46 last season and currently at 37-41 in the East.
He was unable to create a functional playoff defense with the Jazz despite having Gobert.
Current Hawks don't have a worse roster than the Pistons, Magic had both star players injured for a while and yet they're still ahead of the Hawks.
Bulls just one win behind despite constantly trading away their best players.

He's turning 59 this year, not that old, but I want someone who's not older than his early 50s so he can coach the Spurs through Wemby's prime without going senile.


I don’t think the nuggets have had an all star on their roster other than Jokic during malone’s tenure, so I don’t know how you can fault Malone for relying on Jokic. That franchise has been mismanaged for years. And unlike Jenkins, Malone has had success in the playoffs. So I’d rather go with the guy that’s gone through the deep postseason runs. Either would be an improvement over the spurs’ current situation

They didn't have an all-star, but their non-Jokic minutes were always awful. I'm not saying they should've been great during those stretches, but he could've created an offense that's easy to execute for role players.
He got fucked over by Booth, but I don't think he's the coach we need.

He has playoff success over Jenkins, but he also has Jokic.
Jenkins' track record of developing supposed scrubs and reclamation projects into legit rotation pieces is something we need at this stage, imo.

[lefty]

Somehow, Doc Rovers still has a job

[Chillen]

I think Malone winds up with Knicks. They will fire Thibs.

[LeBowen]

I think Malone winds up with Knicks. They will fire Thibs.

Good call.
I don't think Thibs has a chance unless he somehow beats the Celtics in the second round.
Knicks front office probably realize they won't ever win with his lack of rotations and players being exhausted before the playoffs even start.
Malone is from NY, Knicks fanbase would start worshipping him after his first victim mentality rant about things being unfair.

[Dex]

:toast

But if you farmers "luck up and get Flagg" I'm going back downstairs. :lol

From your lips to Silver's ears, make it happen for us brother! :bobo

[tonight...you]

:toast

But if you farmers "luck up and get Flagg" I'm going back downstairs. :lol
I don't farm. I'm over here in downtown Durham living in the same building as Flagg's fam who are staying nearby to him. I've run into him in the elevator like 3 times already. I thought it was him that lived in the spot, but it's his parents.

[Ice009]

I don't farm. I'm over here in downtown Durham living in the same building as Flagg's fam who are staying nearby to him. I've run into him in the elevator like 3 times already. I thought it was him that lived in the spot, but it's his parents.

I recall a person/poster here months ago that said he lives in the same building as Cooper. Was that you, or someone else? So it's actually his parents that live in the building. Have you ever talked basketball with him?

[tonight...you]

I recall a person/poster here months ago that said he lives in the same building as Cooper. Was that you, or someone else? So it's actually his parents that live in the building. Have you ever talked basketball with him?
It was me. I didn't know till later that it was his parents renting a spot next to me because I only ran into him and he wasn't ever with anybody.
I don't do a lot of talking like that. Just chit-chat. Nice kid. It's hard to understand how young these guys are and then you're noticing they still have acne on their face, lol.

[Ice009]

It was me. I didn't know till later that it was his parents renting a spot next to me because I only ran into him and he wasn't ever with anybody.
I don't do a lot of talking like that. Just chit-chat. Nice kid. It's hard to understand how young these guys are and then you're noticing they still have acne on their face, lol.

Yeah, cool. Thanks for sharing. I assume his parents were staying there while he was playing for Duke? Fair enough that you didn't chat much on those topics. I wouldn't have been able to help myself as I would have said sorry on how the season ended and tell him they had a great run, and then asked if he has a preference on who he gets drafted to (probably not an appropriate question), and then say good luck with the draft and for the future.

[ginobilized]

What a wild season. Luka, Jenkins and now Malone. Odd timing on all of these moves.
I like Malone, but, would prefer Jenkins. I believe that Pop played an instrumental role in getting Malone hired in the NBA. He's definitely an insider with Pop.

Likely, lots of strangeness in the future with all of these ownership conglomerates forming. I hope the Spurs don't end up in these situations.

[Ice009]

Just saw some a video title (I didn't watch it. Quite possibly a clickbait title) saying Lakers are front runner to land Jokic. Hopefully it's just clickbait and they're not starting this shit already. Either way, I hope they get knocked out in round 1. Same with the Warriors. Can't stand these teams getting pushed all the time.

[tonight...you]

Yeah, cool. Thanks for sharing. I assume his parents were staying there while he was playing for Duke? Fair enough that you didn't chat much on those topics. I wouldn't have been able to help myself as I would have said sorry on how the season ended and tell him they had a great run, and then asked if he has a preference on who he gets drafted to (probably not an appropriate question), and then say good luck with the draft and for the future.
I actually talk to his parents more as I manage the hotel across the street from where we are and they have friends and family stay there all the time because it's so close.
I just didn't realize it was them until after awhile because they would come in to greet their friends and I would be there and I talk to everybody because I'm a social butterfly so after several conversations I understood who I was talking to. I told my bar manager who they were, but he doesn't give one crap about basketball. He's an Eagles fan and that's it.
I did tell them I was a Spurs fan in passing once and they said it would be neat to see their son with Wemby, but it was just talk and that was all and I haven't seen either him, or his family in weeks so nothing recent.
Once he's out of Duke they're probably gone too. My place is expensive so I can't imagine them staying there any longer. I don't think even the salt water pool with the wave machine is enough, lol.
I just stay there because I get paid well enough and the work is directly across the street so I can walk to work.
Our parking garage is like Jay Leno's dream though. Amazing cars in there.

[SupremeGuy]

I don't farm. I'm over here in downtown Durham living in the same building as Flagg's fam who are staying nearby to him. I've run into him in the elevator like 3 times already. I thought it was him that lived in the spot, but it's his parents.Did you talk to him?

[tonight...you]

Did you talk to him?
Just small talk and jokes. Like I said I talked to his parents more. They're all very pleasant. I didn't even know who they were the first few times.
I haven't seen any of them in a good while and I'm willing to bet I won't moving forward.

[baseline bum]

Not so fast mi amigo
1909663254546464867

Josh Kroenke owns the LA Rams so we all know what that means. :downspin:

Can you post the rest of the scene from your avatar?

[SupremeGuy]

Just small talk and jokes. Like I said I talked to his parents more. They're all very pleasant. I didn't even know who they were the first few times.
I haven't seen any of them in a good while and I'm willing to bet I won't moving forward.That's cool.

Golden Boy Promotions had some fights in my area like 20 years ago, and I met Bernard Hopkins in the VIP section of a club a friend of mine was managing. His entourage and some of the bouncers actually got in a fight that night. lol Don't know how or why but I just saw it happen and Bernard Hopkins didn't even get up or anything. His people are fighting and he just sat there without a care in the World. Nice guy tbh. I just bullshitted with him a for a few minutes. Didn't want to bother him.

[tonight...you]

That's cool.

Golden Boy Promotions had some fights in my area like 20 years ago, and I met Bernard Hopkins in the VIP section of a club a friend of mine was managing. His entourage and some of the bouncers actually got in a fight that night. lol Don't know how or why but I just saw it happen and Bernard Hopkins didn't even get up or anything. His people are fighting and he just sat there without a care in the World. Nice guy tbh. I just bullshitted with him a for a few minutes. Didn't want to bother him.
Lol, I can just imagine him sitting there watching the dummies around him, not giving one shit.

[mystargtr34]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIMp4-ex_eG/?igsh=MWxxMTRiNDQzdnJiaQ==

Mike Malone comments on the firing.

[SupremeGuy]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIMp4-ex_eG/?igsh=MWxxMTRiNDQzdnJiaQ==

Mike Malone comments on the firing.:lmao

[benefactor]

Can you post the rest of the scene from your avatar?
All these years I've always wondered where that came from lol

[SupremeGuy]

Lol, I can just imagine him sitting there watching the dummies around him, not giving one shit.It was funny cause he was sitting at a table to the front and left of me, and the fights are happening fairly close to where he's sitting. He gave zero shits. Almost looked like he was intentionally avoiding looking at the fights. lol

I just looked up his height on google and homeboy isn't 6'1 lol On a good day I'll call myself 6 feet tall and he wasn't taller than me.

[baseline bum]

All these years I've always wondered where that came from lol

Probably some censored JAV

[Arcadian]

Are people really thinking Jokic initiated this?

Idk, man. Jokic always seemed to work well with Malone. And he doesn't seem like the kind of guy that would get his coach fired.

[SupremeGuy]

Are people really thinking Jokic initiated this?

Idk, man. Jokic always seemed to work well with Malone. And he doesn't seem like the kind of guy that would get his coach fired.He doesn't seem like that type of guy, but who else on the team has that much say?

I'm guessing this has more to do with maybe something that happened between Malone and the owner.

Firing your HC a week before the playoffs is fucking stupid so this shit has personal written all over it.

[dn0774]

He doesn't seem like that type of guy, but who else on the team has that much say?

I'm guessing this has more to do with maybe something that happened between Malone and the owner.

Firing your HC a week before the playoffs is fucking stupid so this shit has personal written all over it.

Yea I bet the Jamal Murray injury outlook is worse than they are letting on so ownership just decided to rip the bandaid they were planning to pull off this summer anyway. A healthy-ish Murray would at least give a highly unlikely but still slightly possible chance at making a decent run but without him the season is a wrap.

[Ice009]

I actually talk to his parents more as I manage the hotel across the street from where we are and they have friends and family stay there all the time because it's so close.
I just didn't realize it was them until after awhile because they would come in to greet their friends and I would be there and I talk to everybody because I'm a social butterfly so after several conversations I understood who I was talking to. I told my bar manager who they were, but he doesn't give one crap about basketball. He's an Eagles fan and that's it.
I did tell them I was a Spurs fan in passing once and they said it would be neat to see their son with Wemby, but it was just talk and that was all and I haven't seen either him, or his family in weeks so nothing recent.
Once he's out of Duke they're probably gone too. My place is expensive so I can't imagine them staying there any longer. I don't think even the salt water pool with the wave machine is enough, lol.
I just stay there because I get paid well enough and the work is directly across the street so I can walk to work.
Our parking garage is like Jay Leno's dream though. Amazing cars in there.

That's pretty cool that you did talk to them a little bit. Good that they moved there with him, since like you said, he's still just a young kid. At least they don't mind a bit of a chat. Oh well, good luck to the guy wherever he ends up. Hopefully the Spurs can get lucky, if not, he should be a really good player (even great player) for some team.

I never got to watch the Superbowl (I was going to try, but got the score/spoiler, so I didn't bother), but I expected the Chiefs to win. I assume the bar manager is pretty happy about the Eagles winning it all. Are the Eagles good enough to repeat?

[quentin_compson]

Wild timing at the very least for firing your coach.
Since winning the title, the Nugget's problems have mostly stemmed from not being able to hold on to players like Bruce Brown and KCP, not being able to replace said players, and Murray not being able to stay healthy/play well on a consistent basis. I don't see how any of this is Malone's fault.
As for Denver sucking whenever Jokic sits, sure, some of the blame for that probably should fall on the coach. But it's also because of poor roster construction and because Murray just never was that good when he had to play in non-Jokic line-ups.

I guess most people see Denver's playoff run last season as a failure because of their second round exit. But they were up big in Game 7 against the Wolves before shitting the bed. Had they been able to hang on and win that game, they would have had a rather agreeable match-up in the CF with the Mavs and we might be talking about them at least putting up a good fight in the Finals against the Celtics. It's a lot of "what if's", I know ...

[Raven]

Sign him. No ifs and buts

[lefty]

Calvin Booth is still a Mavs legend for that tip in that eliminated Karl Malone and system PG Stockton :lol

Bro eliminated one Malone and got another one fired

[Ice009]

I know a lot of you guys don't like his demeanor/temper, but I kind of like him because of that. I'd have him near the top of my list. I think he has the best balance between old Pop. Maybe not as calm as old school Pop, as Pop had amazing balance where he could go off on the players and then a minute later be all cool and calm, and still very approachable. Not sure if Mike cools down as fast, but I want a coach that is willing to get on players and call them out/call the team out when they're playing poorly. Mike seems very approachable even if he does go off on you like Pop used to do back in the day. I don't want a pushover coach. I just don't know what kind of balance Michael Malone has.

I also wonder if any coach would be willing to come on board and co-coach with Pop for a season and then take over? Malone might be the only guy willing to do that since he knows Pop quite well.

[ChumpDumper]

Not so fast mi amigo
1909663254546464867

Josh Kroenke owns the LA Rams so we all know what that means. :downspin:

Jokic is going to be a quarterback?

[Brazil]

watch jokic sign with the Lakers next season and play with his buddy Luka for a bag of chips and a hot sauce

[TekXX]

And yet were stuck with Pop and Wright and their decade of mediocrity because the owners handed the whole kingdom to Popovich. At least the Nuggets have some accountability even if it's used for a bullshit reason.

[BatManu20]

watch jokic sign with the Lakers next season and play with his buddy Luka for a bag of chips and a hot sauce

He's under contract for at least 3 more years, 4 if he picks up his option. They're not trading him unless he publicly demands it and even then I'm not sure they would. It's more realistic that Luka would go to Denver as a Free Agent next Summer than it is the Nuggets trading him to LA.

[Dverde]

Trading for Bryn Forbes should cost you your job.

[Dex]

My thoughts:

1) There is no guarantee Pop is planning to return next season. I know he talked about "going out on his terms", but his terms may be to let Mitch have his shot (which he has) and to sort this out in the offseason rather than going through a mid-season coaching change for a team who hasn't changed coaches in over two decades.

2) I don't want the Spurs to keep Mitch. I think he was put in a tough spot and, again, you don't just an fire interim coach in a bad spot after your HoF coach just suffered a potentially career-ending (if not life-ending) stroke. The Spurs weren't going to make noise in the playoffs this year anyways, so might as well just let him ride it out.

3) A lot rides on what Wemby wants. If he is deadset on keeping Pop, then guess what...Pop is staying. You could call that NBA malpractice or whatever but...we can't afford to piss of Wemby and lose him.

4) Having more candidates in the coaching pool helps the Spurs here. They now have more options to select from including several qualified candidates (Malone, Jenkins, Becky if she decides to leave WNBA, etc) so it seems even less likely that Johnson is given the spot. We also have former head coach and Spurs assistant Brett Brown on the bench right now, and I'm still surprised he didn't get the interim gig when Pop went down

[LkrFan]

Can you post the rest of the scene from your avatar?

I wish I could tbh. :lol

[LkrFan]

Jokic is going to be a quarterback?

Yup :lol

[LkrFan]

watch jokic sign with the Lakers next season and play with his buddy Luka for a bag of chips and a hot sauce

:D

[Splits]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GoB52JzXEAA2pN9?format=jpg&name=medium


4 of the last 5 head coaches that Westbrook has played for either quit or were fired after coaching him for a year



Mike D’Antoni quit in 2020 after a season of Russ on the rockets
Scott Brooks was fired in 2021 in June after a season of Russ on the wizards
Frank Vogel was fired in 2022 (after coaching the lakers to a ring 2 years prior) after a year of Russ on the lakers
Ty Lue = anointed and protected by the Holy Spirit
Malone = fired after almost a year with Russ

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1juln6j/4_of_the_last_5_head_coaches_that_westbrook_has/?rdt=37438

if the FO decides to keep Mitch or bring back Pop, I'm all for signing Russ

[spurraider21]

tbh for most of the season Russ has been a force for good for denver

[LeBowen]

tbh for most of the season Russ has been a force for good for denver

He was good as a high energy backup, then Murray got injured and Russ started getting more and more usage, which led to garbage basketball, as per usual.

[spurraider21]

He was good as a high energy backup, then Murray got injured and Russ started getting more and more usage, which led to garbage basketball, as per usual.
yeah but thats not on him. heck there were games he was starting at PF in the aaron gordon role and performing admirably. the fact that denver has awful depth (and used their entire mini midlevel exception of dario saric who has not cracked the rotation) isnt westbrook's fault

[LeBowen]

yeah but thats not on him. heck there were games he was starting at PF in the aaron gordon role and performing admirably. the fact that denver has awful depth (and used their entire mini midlevel exception of dario saric who has not cracked the rotation) isnt westbrook's fault

Obviously, but he's 36 and still hasn't learned what he should and shouldn't do.
He just goes and doesn't think about anything.

He's not the reason for their issues, far from it, but as of late he's not helping at all.
Just think of our recent win against them, there was a possession with maybe 2 minutes left in the game and we were 4 or 5 points up, he just dribbled the ball for like 15 seconds and then took a 3pt from 2 steps behind the arc. Why?

[ambchang]

People are gonna say Jokic had a hand in this but I think we are seeing an era of owners just over stepping their knowledge and do stupid things.

Mavs, Memphis and now nuggets. Not to mention the kings who have made some non sensical trade this year (thanks). It’s a culture of owners listening to yes men around them, where a couple of dimwits who google online and read a couple of Reddit threads would think they got this basketball thing figured out, then proceed to do the stupidest thing possible.

[LeBowen]

Hit pieces are coming out and saying key players were frustrated by Malone not reducing Westbrook's role despite him being a negative on the floor.
I'm also inclined to believe in theory that Jokic agreed with both firings because he hates drama and grown men acting like children. He just wants to focus on basketball, Booth and Malone were in the way of that.

[quentin_compson]

FWIW, Jokic said that Kroenke told him of the decision, but that it wasn't a discussion, rather the decision had already been made:
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44609705/adelman-confident-nuggets-rise-challenge-shakeup

[Mr. Body]

I don't believe it was about Westbrook.

Kroenkes are pretty good owners, so this is strange.

[Jordan Jackson]

There are people here who believe Jokić didn’t give this the ok? If not out right initiate it?

Ownership is supposed to protect their franchise guy/best player in the league. Good for them.

How much of a dick do you have to be make Joker turn on you? Crazy stuff.

[exstatic]

There are people here who believe Jokić didn’t give this the ok? If not out right initiate it?

Ownership is supposed to protect their franchise guy/best player in the league. Good for them.

How much of a dick do you have to be make Joker turn on you? Crazy stuff.

Look up a couple of posts to the link. Joker himself said he didn’t, nor did they ask him to sign off on it.

[Jordan Jackson]

Look up a couple of posts to the link. Joker himself said he didn’t, nor did they ask him to sign off on it.

What would you like him to say? “Yeah you got me. It was I who did it and I would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddling kids”.

[exstatic]

What would you like him to say? “Yeah you got me. It was I who did it and I would have gotten away with it if it weren’t for you meddling kids”.

One of the funniest things in fandom are the ones who think the thought process for foreign players is the same as Americans. Jokic is a straight shooter who was honest enough to say he didn’t care about their victory parade, but just wanted to go home to be with his horses and work in the stables. He was genuinely disappointed that he had to stick around for a few extra days. He’s not the guy you think he is.

[dn0774]

Jokic strikes me as an old school type who would have more respect for the org/owner who outright makes the decision and stands on it rather than waffling about and essentially asking players if it would be ok. Jokic has said in the past that in his home country if something is broken/not working you should expect to be fired. Obviously, in the NBA roster moves are quite difficult due to trade deadline/contracts/aprons etc, but coaching and front office changes don't have those constraints which is why the coach change lever gets pulled most often.

Jokic alluded to Kroenke essentially blasting the players for poor performance and that even though the coach took the fall the players share that blame as well. Jokic is not a diva superstar (think KD), even though he probably has the most power to wield in the league he certainly doesn't act like it.

[scott]

One of the funniest things in fandom are the ones who think the thought process for foreign players is the same as Americans. Jokic is a straight shooter who was honest enough to say he didn’t care about their victory parade, but just wanted to go home to be with his horses and work in the stables. He was genuinely disappointed that he had to stick around for a few extra days. He’s not the guy you think he is.

I always thought one of the funniest things in fandom was stating one's opinion, speculation and inferences as though they are facts.

[exstatic]

I always thought one of the funniest things in fandom was stating one's opinion, speculation and inferences as though they are facts.

Actually, most of it was based on the current Jokic interview several posts above, and interviews around the time of the championship. I didn’t waste time posting links, quotes and excerpts because the young man had already made up his mind that Jokic backstabbed Malone.

[ambchang]

I would’ve thought it’s too crazy for the nuggets to fire Malone without Jokics input, but the doncic trade just shattered my baseline of what is crazy and what is believable.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

watch jokic sign with the Lakers next season and play with his buddy Luka for a bag of chips and a hot sauce

i don't think jokic likes basketball that much. i think he wants to get paid. and then wants to dictate the rest of his work/life balance. wants to perform well enough that he merits the next payday

[objective]

The emergency episode of the DNVR podcast after the firing had a lot of stories about the war between Malone and Booth ... Malone sounds like enough of a petty, unreasonable maniac that he could be a top Spurs target.

Stories about him intentionally setting up summer workouts to try and sabotage young players he didn't like. Getting so pissed that a shooting coach was hired without his approval that the shooting coach was banned from any Nuggets practice or practice court by Malone out of fear that he could be a spy for Booth, so that the SC had to work with young players after hours and in different locations.

Way to support the young players and destroy your own talent to stick it to the gm.

What a clown, keep him away from San Antonio

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

He was good as a high energy backup, then Murray got injured and Russ started getting more and more usage, which led to garbage basketball, as per usual.

good for my fantasy team tbh

[Ice009]

i don't think jokic likes basketball that much. i think he wants to get paid. and then wants to dictate the rest of his work/life balance. wants to perform well enough that he merits the next payday

Where do people get this stuff from? I know it's mentioned he loves his horses/horse racing, but that doesn't mean he also doesn't love basketball. There is no way that he doesn't love basketball IMO. I don't think you can play as hard as he does and put up the stats that he does if he doesn't at the very least really, really basketball. He busts his ass out there.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

Where do people get this stuff from? I know it's mentioned he loves his horses/horse racing, but that doesn't mean he also doesn't love basketball. There is no way that he doesn't love basketball IMO. I don't think you can play as hard as he does and put up the stats that he does if he doesn't at the very least really, really basketball. He busts his ass out there.

a sample

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gK6n-R-UPMs

[lefty]

You don’t get to that level without loving basketball

[Brazil]

He's under contract for at least 3 more years, 4 if he picks up his option. They're not trading him unless he publicly demands it and even then I'm not sure they would. It's more realistic that Luka would go to Denver as a Free Agent next Summer than it is the Nuggets trading him to LA.

A couple of month ago before the Luka trade I'd say the same but what was the odds of Dallas trading Luka for less than a bag of chips and a hot sauce ?

[Brazil]

i don't think jokic likes basketball that much. i think he wants to get paid. and then wants to dictate the rest of his work/life balance. wants to perform well enough that he merits the next payday

another reason for him to want to play with a buddy of him rather than murray with whom he has no connection whatsoever. Jokic certainly does not care playing for a small market, the LA bling bling does not impress him at him but LA would offer Luka and better chance to get another ring. He may not be passionate about bb but he is a winner nonetheless

After Luka trade who can seriously not consider it as a possibility ?

[LeBowen]

Jokic not liking basketball are the absolute worst takes, ffs.
He doesn't like the NBA.
NBA as in everything that goes on before the tip-off and after the final buzzer.
He doesn't like the drama, the politics, the mainstream media or repoters asking dumb questions.

He just wants to go play the game and then go home. Does it remind you of anyone?
It's just that our guy liked cars instead of horses, but they're as similar as superstars could be.

[John B]

A couple of month ago before the Luka trade I'd say the same but what was the odds of Dallas trading Luka for less than a bag of chips and a hot sauce ?

That Luka trade with finally gifted an aging Laker team (the original darling of the NBA) a young generational player, should be heavily investigated. There’s more to it than we know.

[ambchang]

Robinson also liked his kids, engineering, and a bunch of other things. People take athletes not being solely dedicated to basketball and nothing else as some sort of prerequisite to greatest is misguided. Robinson played against shaq when he couldn’t feel his legs, he has been around the spurs for 20 years supporting the team, but he was dogged his entire career as not being dedicated enough, which is pure hogwash.

Duncan like motorcycles and dungeons and dragons. He doesn’t like to deal with the spotlight at all but his dedication to the game is incredible.

People always use jordan and kobe as being totally dedicated to basketball and has that mamba mentality or whatever marketing gimmick they have and it’s so stupid. It speaks to how a general fan is a pure simpleton. Jordan took the time off to gamble into the wee hours of the night during the middle of the playoffs, he took the time to have affairs with dozens of women, he spent hours upon hours hawking merchandise. Same with Kobe, infidelity, marketing, products. Those things take a lot of time. But because they created an image people soak it all up.

Jokic just wants to play the game and go home. He trained immensely to lose weight since his rookie year. You don’t do that if you don’t love the game.


It’s like at work where that guy who goes arounf socializing with higher ups instead of doing his job gets the good rep and promotions, while the actual competent guy who puts his head down and work then go home gets stuck in the same post because he doesn’t have the executive presence. People just jumps to illogical conclusions all the time.

[scott]

The emergency episode of the DNVR podcast after the firing had a lot of stories about the war between Malone and Booth ... Malone sounds like enough of a petty, unreasonable maniac that he could be a top Spurs target.

Stories about him intentionally setting up summer workouts to try and sabotage young players he didn't like. Getting so pissed that a shooting coach was hired without his approval that the shooting coach was banned from any Nuggets practice or practice court by Malone out of fear that he could be a spy for Booth, so that the SC had to work with young players after hours and in different locations.

Way to support the young players and destroy your own talent to stick it to the gm.

What a clown, keep him away from San Antonio

Yikes. Definitely not who I'd want leading our team.

[Tyronn Lue]

Denver had to make a move after Dallas moved Luka to LA. They have a possible 4 time league MVP and they put basically scraps next to him.

[Ice009]

Who is responsible for putting the scraps around Jokic? Is it Booth and Malone, or were they handicapped by ownership.

I do agree with you, though. It seems they needed to do something to show Jokic they're going to try harder to put a better team around him. They have to, otherwise, he's likely going to ask out if they don't get him some more reliable help. Murray is good IMO and I really like him as a player when he's at his best, but he's not reliable unfortunately.

[Maddog]

Who is responsible for putting the scraps around Jokic? Is it Booth and Malone, or were they handicapped by ownership.

I do agree with you, though. It seems they needed to do something to show Jokic they're going to try harder to put a better team around him. They have to, otherwise, he's likely going to ask out if they don't get him some more reliable help. Murray is good IMO and I really like him as a player when he's at his best, but he's not reliable unfortunately.

It's probably a combination

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/04/inside-the-nuggets-firing-of-michael-malone-calvin-booth.html

[cutewizard]

The Joker would be perfect for Spurs culture, tbh