Michael Malone — the winningest coach in Denver Nuggets history — sparked outrage amid the fan base when he said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proved why he was MVP in Oklahoma City's Game 1 win over Minnesota on Tuesday. Before Game 2 on Thursday, he clarified that if he had an MVP vote, it would've gone to Nikola Jokic, not SGA.
Malone joined ESPN's Western Conference Finals coverage, his first gig after the Nuggets fired him last month with three games remaining in the regular season. Denver fans were surprised to hear him say that SGA showed why he won the coveted award, assuming it was a shot at Jokic and the Nuggets. However, according to Malone, that wasn't the case:
"I did vote for him again this year, if I had a vote," Malone, appearing as a guest analyst on ESPN before Game 2 between the Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, said of Jokic, his longtime former star. "Want to make sure the people in Denver know that because, right now, I'm getting a lot of heat back home."
Malone had a front row seat to Jokic's greatness the past 10 years, watching him grow from an unknown second-round pick to the best player in the league.
Malone says Nikola Jokic would've gotten his MVP vote
The former coach might feel animosity toward the Nuggets organization for firing him so late in the season, but Jokic didn't push Kroenke to make that decision. Jokic said he found out about the firings "a little bit before everybody," but he clarified it wasn't a discussion. Kroenke had already made the decision.
Jokic is far from a typical NBA superstar. He doesn't stroll into Denver's front office and demand that they do things his way. He accepted Kroenke's decision and focused on the Nuggets finishing the season strong, which is what happened. Jokic understands the NBA is a business.
All good things must come to an end. Malone led Denver to its first-ever NBA title, but Kroenke felt it was in the team's best interest to move on from him. The timing wasn't the best; however, it allowed David Adelman to take over in time for the playoffs, resulting in the 44-year-old receiving the position.
Malone should always be respected in Colorado, as long as he doesn't take what fans perceive as another shot at one of the most beloved players in Denver's history.