Sources: Nuggets’ Michael Malone to be among highest-paid coaches
Malone’s new deal comes in the aftermath of leading the Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship, the first in the franchise’s history. Malone’s long-standing partnership with two-time MVP Nikola Jokic — coupled with the organization’s deep and stable roster — gives Denver a chance of several more seasons of championship contention.
Malone — who has led Denver to a Western Conference-leading 8-2 record to start the 2023-24 season — spent eight seasons lifting the franchise out of the lottery, into the playoffs and, ultimately, to an NBA title. Denver’s 16-4 run in the 2023 playoffs was the league’s most dominant since the Golden State Warriors in 2017.
Malone is the league’s fourth-longest-tenured coach in the league — behind San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and Golden State’s Steve Kerr. He holds a 375-272 (.580) regular-season record with Denver and is 37-31 (.554) in the playoffs.
Under Malone, the Nuggets have the second-best winning percentage in the NBA since the 2018-19 season, trailing only the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Malone stands third all-time in games (647) and wins (375) among Nuggets head coaches, behind Doug Moe and George Karl.