The Nuggets have completely shocked the NBA world, cleaning house just days from the end of the regular season, firing head coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth. This comes as an absolute shocker as Denver is currently sitting in third place in the Western Conference with just three games to play.
Full clean out: The Denver Nuggets are also firing general manager Calvin Booth, sources tell ESPN. Michael Malone and Booth both out today. pic.twitter.com/FvqOAFyOKy
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2025
They’ve been struggling lately, but a lot of that can be tied to injuries, especially to Jamal Murray. But however you spin it, they’ve lost four straight games and they’re in serious jeopardy of falling all the way to the play-in tournament.
Calvin Booth has decimated Nuggets’ championship roster
Calvin Booth helped take the Nuggets across the finish line and win their first championship in 2023. Masai Ujiri started the job, Tim Connelly did a lot of the heavy lifting, and Booth made some moves on the margins that pushed them over the edge.
But his moves since the title have been questionable at best. He clearly has not been on the same page with Malone, who favors veterans, as he has seen Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, and Justin Holiday walk out the door the last two offseasons.
Booth has whiffed on signings like Dario Saric and Reggie Jackson while handing out very questionable guaranteed deals to guys like Zeke Nnaji and Hunter Tyson. He has also compounded his mistakes by handing out player options, and then trading away assets just to salary dump his own signings.
This all led to a shallow roster devoid of talent around Nikola Jokic. Booth has hamstrung the team and built a roster that isn’t ready to compete during the prime years of one of the all-time greats. He dug his own grave with his moves and his inability to work with the coaching staff.
The Nuggets and Booth failed to reach an extension before the season
According to Chris Haynes, the Nuggets were working on an extension with Booth before the season but they were unable to come to terms. It’s reasonable to assume that made this season a sort of trial and audition for Booth to keep his job; one which he failed miserably.
Denver Nuggets and Calvin Booth failed to reach terms on an extension that both parties felt was satisfactory before the 2024-25 got underway, sources tell me. Booth, instrumental in helping the franchise capture a title, was on an expiring contract.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) April 8, 2025
They can’t afford to mess around or waste any more time with Jokic aging and playing at the level he is. Moves need to be made and the Nuggets are going to have to completely overhaul everything in the organization around Jokic.
While this move is a total shocker based on the timing, it’s warranted and perhaps even overdue. Booth has done enough damage and the owners finally decided to step in and make a move with the playoffs on the horizon.