When the Nuggets shockingly fired the most successful coach in franchise history back in April, most didn’t think Michael Malone would be out of a job for long. It was assumed that he’d be a leading candidate to land any vacant job his heart desired in the offseason, but that job won’t be in coaching, as Malone has accepted a job on ESPN’s NBA Countdown.
Malone was part of the crew during the playoffs and NBA Finals on a part-time basis, and he was rumored to be a candidate for the Knicks’ opening once they parted with Thom Thibodeaux. But Malone didn’t get that job, and he was barely mentioned for any of the other jobs, so it appears he’ll be stepping into a full-time analyst role.
It’s unclear whether Malone was contacted about potential coaching jobs and opted to take a break, or if he simply wasn’t considered. Malone was one of the few old-school coaches left in the league, so there’s a chance that rebuilding teams wanted to go with a younger, more player-friendly option, while contending teams wanted more of an X’s and O’s guy.
It’s also possible that Malone was exhausted from his ten years with the Nuggets and decided to take a break from coaching, whether temporarily or permanently. Regardless, he now joins ESPN’s NBA coverage on a permanent basis, and Nuggets fans will be seeing him plenty this season.
Malone an excellent TV analyst
Most Nuggets fans still have positive feelings towards Malone, and should be happy that they won’t have to root against him while he leads another team. Instead, fans can enjoy and appreciate his voice on national television, hopefully properly advocating for Denver and Nikola Jokic.
Sure, he didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms, and he would be justified in holding a grudge against the organization. But ultimately, he’s a professional and he understands the business. His 10 years in Denver were the pinnacle of his professional career, and the 2023 title was his crowning achievement.
The sting of his firing is still fresh, but that will be forgotten, and Malone will get his proper due in Denver someday, where he will be properly honored as a franchise icon. Hopefully, that will be as an iconic voice of the NBA, and Malone can have a long career on TV, ideally becoming more and more of a Nuggets homer as time passes.