The firing of Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone sent a message to the rest of the league: it doesn’t matter if you won a championship, and it doesn’t matter how close the playoffs are – everyone is expendable.
Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue spoke about that recently, touching upon the sudden firing of Malone and the state of coaching in the NBA.
“The criteria for getting hired, fired, I don’t know what it is anymore,” Lue said, per RG on X.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue on recent head-coaching firings before playoffs: ‘The criteria for getting hired, fired, I don’t know what it is anymore.” @MarkG_Medina’s dispatch on former Nuggets coach Michael Malone being the latest casualty.https://t.co/6Xk8B1UojN
— RG (@TheRGMedia) April 9, 2025
Malone was definitely receiving negative reviews this year, but most people didn’t think he’d be fired at this point.
The Nuggets aren’t in the place they want to be, especially because Nikola Jokic is playing so well this year.
There have been complaints about the rotation and other choices Malone made.
A lot of people believed that he faced firing in the summer if the Nuggets didn’t turn things around and make a playoff push.
Instead, he was let go just days before the postseason.
Obviously, the firing might have major implications for the Nuggets.
It may have doomed their chances in the playoffs, but it could also put them in a better position.
This shows how much the Nuggets wanted a change and how much they didn’t like Malone’s performance.
Lue is probably safe with his job, especially because he has such a cozy and comfortable relationship with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
But the league moves quickly, the NBA is a business, and things can change in the blink of an eye.
Lue isn’t going to think about that and will instead stay focused on leading his team into the postseason.
He doesn’t understand why the league works like it does, but he is paying attention to more important things.
NEXT: Stats Show How Nikola Jokic Has Dominated In Past 7 Games
