Overview

• Michael Malone, recently fired by the Denver Nuggets, made his debut as a studio analyst for ESPN's NBA Countdown during the Western Conference Finals.
• Malone's comments endorsing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as MVP sparked backlash from Nuggets fans, who felt it was a slight against Nikola Jokic.
• Interim coach David Adelman has received public support from key Nuggets players, including Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon, for the permanent head coach position.
• Adelman led the Nuggets to a seven-game series in the second round of the playoffs, impressing both players and ownership with his leadership and defensive strategies.
• Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke acknowledged the team's resilience under Adelman, hinting at his strong candidacy for the head coach role next season.