Head coach Michael Malone was shockingly fired by the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. As was the case when the Memphis Grizzlies made a similar decision with Taylor Jenkins last month, everyone is wondering why. Why would the Nuggets, closing in on 50 wins this season, fire the only coach who's ever brought them a title? Why would they choose to do so with five days and three games left in the regular season? Why, in the middle of another historic season from all-time talent Nikola Jokic, would the team voluntarily do anything that could decrease its championship odds?
In a statement released after the news the Nuggets offered a brief explanation: the move was made with the hope of winning a title this year in mind. Speaking on ESPN after breaking the stunning development, NBA insider Shams Charania dug in further and detailed Denver's primary motivation for moving on from Malone at such an inopportune time.
