Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone fires back at Lakers

There’s been a bit of back-and-forth this week between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers — mostly from L.A.’s side, though.

However, Nuggets head coach Michael Malone fired back at the Lakers on Wednesday, after Denver’s training camp practice.

“If they are still worried about us, that’s on them,” Malone said via DNVR’s YouTube page. “I have tremendous respect for the Lakers, I have tremendous respect for Darvin Ham. But if they are still worried about us, that’s on them”

The budding rivalry between L.A. and Denver has been an interesting addition to the opening night meeting between the two sides on Oct. 24.

Lakers stars Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves have had the Denver Nuggets on their minds

Malone’s statement came in response to a few quotes from Lakers stars Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves.

The war of words began on Monday when Davis expressed his excitement to take on the Nuggets later this month.

“It was just a lot of talking and all of the ‘Lakers are dead.’ We get it y’all won,” Davis told James Worthy. “Me and [LeBron James] had some conversations, like — we can’t wait [to play Denver].”

Reaves added more fuel to the flames on Tuesday when he told reporters that he and his teammates had heard some of the things said about the Lakers this summer.

“I think everybody knows it was pointed at us,” Reaves said (h/t Dave McMenamin). “They can do it indirectly if they want, but I think it was very obvious to the public eye, that’s why everybody was talking about it. You see stuff. Me personally, I try my best to stay off social media.”

Reaves also mentioned that he was thrilled to see that L.A. would open the year against Denver.