When the Nuggets fired Michael Malone and handed the reins to David Adelman, Nuggets fans were promised something different. A new voice. Fresh energy. Maybe, just maybe, a willingness to actually develop the young talent the front office kept drafting.
“Internal development.” Remember that being the buzzword of the offseason before the MPJ for Cam Johnson trade?
Five months into the Adelman era, we're getting déja vu instead.
Aaron Gordon’s hamstring injury opened a rotation spot that could’ve gone to Da’Ron Holmes, the team's 2024 first-round pick who’s been playing well in the G League. Instead? Adelman’s leaning on Spencer Jones — a two-way player who can’t even suit up for playoff games — and dusting off Zeke Nnaji, a player that’s spent the better part of six seasons proving he doesn’t belong in an NBA rotation.
Sound familiar? A similar issue plagued the Malone years, created the cold war with Booth and ultimately cost Malone his job. Now, we’re evidently watching Adelman waste the same developmental opportunities.
Malone’s Mixed Legacy with Youth
To be fair to Malone, his track record with young players wasn’t entirely disastrous. He deserves credit for helping develop Gary Harris into a great perimeter defender and quality starter. He nurtured Jamal Murray from inconsistent rookie into championship-caliber point guard. And yes, he recognized what the Nuggets had in Nikola Jokic before the rest of the world caught on.
But for every success story, there’s a cautionary tale.
Emmanuel Mudiay never found his footing under Malone’s watch. Jusuf Nurkic famously demanded out after being yanked from the starting lineup. Malik Beasley rotted on the bench for two years before eventually being traded and excelling elsewhere. Remember when Malone stubbornly played Torrey Craig — a fine role player, nothing more — over Michael Porter Jr.?
Moach valued experience over potential. And as the Nuggets transformed from plucky upstart to legitimate contender, that tendency calcified into dogma.
I get it. Championship teams need veteran steadiness. You can’t win in May and June with a bunch of kids figuring things out on the fly. But figuring out what the young kids can do is often prudent roster management.
Imagine if Malone played Jalen Pickett, a player Booth specifically wanted Malone to prioritize, instead of two-way contract player Collin Gillespie getting run. Maybe Pickett would have a similar impact in Denver as Gillespie’s in Phoenix this season. It sure would be nice to give Jamal Murray more than 10 minutes of rest per game.
Familiar Frustrations Under Adelman
To me, the recent Nnaji-over-Holmes decision makes no sense.
Holmes was the 22nd overall pick in the 2024 draft. He missed his entire rookie season recovering from a torn Achilles but came back strong this summer, dominating Summer League with near 20-20 performances. When the Nuggets sent him to the G League to get game reps, he responded by averaging 19.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists across eight games. His rebounding, passing, and downhill scoring already make him an intriguing NBA prospect.
So when Gordon went down with a hamstring strain—an injury that'll keep him out four to six weeks—the opportunity was obvious. Give Holmes NBA minutes. See what you have. Let the kid develop against real competition.
Instead, Adelman went with Nnaji and Jones. Never mind that Nnaji has been a complete nonfactor for years, contributing next to nothing on either end when given chances. Never mind that Jones, whose hustle and effort I genuinely appreciate, cannot play in playoff games. And let’s not forget that Holmes could ideally learn through similar mistakes that Nnaji has been making for years.
If Adelman won’t play Holmes now, with Gordon hurt and playoff positioning still months away, when exactly will he play him?
When the games matter even more? When the margin for error shrinks even further?
Holmes' Time is Now
If you ask me, Holmes now needs NBA minutes, real competition, the chance to learn what works and what doesn’t against starting-caliber players. Every game he sits is a wasted opportunity. Every night Nnaji logs 12 meaningless minutes is another data point proving we learned nothing from the Malone era.
To me, it’s time to see what we have in Holmes — his shooting, his passing, his ability to (hopefully) impact winning basketball at the NBA level. Not next month. Not next season. Now.
Before we waste another year of Nikola Jokic’s prime doing the same thing and expecting different results.