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39m ago

Former Nuggets Coach Michael Malone Joins ESPN for Western Conference Finals Coverage

Malone transitions from Denver’s sudden dismissal to a studio analyst role as ESPN revamps its on-site playoff broadcasts.

Mar 5, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacts in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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Nov 4, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone reacts in the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Michael Malone, fired by the Denver Nuggets with three games left in the regular season, is now serving as a guest analyst for ESPN’s Western Conference Finals coverage.
  • Malone had led Denver to its first NBA championship in 2023 and remains the franchise’s all-time wins leader before his abrupt departure.
  • Reports suggest locker room tensions over Malone’s uneven treatment of stars Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Russell Westbrook contributed to his firing.
  • Interim coach David Adelman guided the Nuggets to a Game 7 second-round exit, narrowly missing the Western Conference Finals.
  • ESPN’s decision to host its flagship shows, 'NBA Countdown' and 'NBA Today,' on-site for the series marks a return to in-person coverage not seen since 2022.