The Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth on Tuesday. It left the entire league and its fans in shock, with many people having strong reactions.
Specifically, other top head coaches reacted to one of their colleagues being let go, and one that was well-respected around the league.
More news: Calvin Booth Breaks Silence on Being Fired by Nuggets
The team that just beat the Nuggets two days ago was the Indiana Pacers, so in a somewhat joking manner, one could say they ended Malone’s tenure in Denver.
Head coach Rick Carlisle weighed in on the firing, which he had a similar reaction to for similarly shocking firings with Taylor Jenkins being relieved by the Memphis Grizzlies and Mike Brown being fired by the Sacramento Kings.
Carlisle on Malone, Mike Brown and Taylor Jenkins getting fired this season: “If anyone would’ve told me any of these guys would’ve been fired midseason, I would’ve been shocked. … It’s disappointing, it’s kinda numbing to be honest.”
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) April 8, 2025
“If anyone would’ve told me any of these guys would’ve been fired midseason, I would’ve been shocked. … It’s disappointing, it’s kinda numbing to be honest.”
Carlisle was at one point the third-longest tenured head coach in the NBA when he was still coaching the Dallas Mavericks, but he stepped down back in 2021. Malone was the fourth-longest tenured head coach in the NBA before being fired, behind Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra, and Steve Kerr.
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau also reacted to the news during a Knicks press conference leading up to their game with the Boston Celtics.
Tom Thibodeau on Michael Malone and Calvin Booth’s firings:
“Just disappointment — it’s the unfortunate part of the business. I’ve known Michael for decades. Unbelievable family, great coach.” pic.twitter.com/scjBPUlpnU
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) April 8, 2025
“Just disappointment – it’s the unfortunate part of the business. I’ve known Michael for decades. Unbelievable family, great coach,” he said.
Eakin Howard/Getty Images
Thibodeau has been a head coach in the NBA for 13 years, five with the Chicago Bulls, three with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and five and counting with the New York Knicks.
His opponent for tonight, Joe Mazzula, gave his own reaction to the firing in a classic Mazzula way.
Joe Mazzulla on the reality of coaching: “I wake up every day saying this is going to be my last day. You have to have that type of perspective because it gives you gratitude (and) it also keeps you hungry. So you just have to have a healthy balance of you want this for as long…
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 8, 2025
“I wake up every day saying this is going to be my last day. You have to have that type of perspective because it gives you gratitude (and) it also keeps you hungry. So you just have to have a healthy balance of you want this for as long as you can. At the same time, you’re replaceable because that’s just how it works.”
More news: Nuggets Shockingly Blow Up Front Office, Fire HC Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth
Mazulla is only in his third season with the Celtics and has been extremely successful in each one, including winning the NBA championship last season. However, even he, as he clearly laid out, could be fired at any moment whether based on foreseen or unforeseen circumstances.
Three head coaches have been shockingly fired this season, with each one being more shocking than the last. It is unclear if this is the new norm or an anomaly season, but every coach needs to be watching their back apparently, as owners are viewing them as more expendable than ever.
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