Things haven’t felt this dark for Nuggets Nation in a long time, and after bowing out in six games to a banged-up Timberwolves team in round one, fans are expecting major changes in Denver. This team was supposed to be revamped with better depth and versatility, but at the end of the day, they just looked like a worse, older, slower version of the team we’ve seen for the last two years. And that’s just not good enough anymore.
When the Kroenkes got rid of Michael Malone and Calvin Booth, they wanted an organizational reset, but things felt far too similar this season. It culminated with Adelman getting outcoached by Chris Finch, giving some questionable comments to the media, and the Nuggets losing to a T-Wolves team that didn’t have Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu, and Kyle Anderson by the end of the series.
With the team looking so rudderless, clearly lacking leadership and direction, many people figured the David Adelman experiment would be over after just one season, but according to a report from the Denver Post and Bennett Durando, Adelman’s job is safe, and he’ll be the coach of the Nuggets again next season.
Adelman to return as Nuggets coach
When Malone was fired, and Adelman was promoted, it made sense to keep continuity in the midst of the season. DA had a solid showing in the playoffs and was named the full-time coach. The decision made sense in the moment, but also raised some questions about ownership, taking the cheapest possible options, hiring within for the front office, and the head coach.
So, after the team’s first time failing to win a single playoff series since 2022, and with improvements around an aging Nikola Jokic clearly needed, there was some hope that the Kroenkes might actually splurge on a proven, veteran coach who could instill a culture and identity and get the team back on track.
But it appears that won’t be the case, as Durando reports that Jokic and Adelman are the only personnel who are safe. Firing Adelman after just one year that was muddled with injuries would have been a bit harsh, but at the same time, the Nuggets' window is rapidly closing. They don’t have time for a young, inexperienced coach to learn the job on the fly.
If they truly believe in DA and think he’s the best man for the job, that’s a fair stance. But if they simply don’t want to pay another coach, and still want to see more, then that’s a waste of Jokic’s prime that simply can’t be afforded.
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