The Denver Nuggets are crumbling — and not just on the court.
Locker room rumblings have circulated rumors that off the court, the Nuggets are unraveling just as quickly, especially following the shocking firing of head coach Michael Malone. With the playoffs fast approaching, the team’s chemistry remains in disarray and people are desperate to point fingers.
Who Is In The Crossfire of Denver’s Meltdown?
And now, more than ever, that finger is pointed squarely at Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook signed with the Nuggets last summer following a rather disappointing stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. The hope? That his presence would offer a steadying veteran influence — and maybe even a dynamic guard-big combo with Nikola Jokic. After all, Westbrook is a former MVP.
But things have turned sour in the latter half of the season. The straw that broke the camel’s back was a recent double-overtime heartbreaker matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The former MVP blew a layup and subsequently fouled a three-point shooter in Nickeil Alexander-Walker, tainting what should’ve been a historic night for Jokic, who posted a 60-point triple-double.
Malone’s Support Of Westbrook
Amid the turmoil, Malone remained steadfast in his choice of keeping Westbrook on the floor.
“He knows what big games are about, and we’re playing a lot of guys that have no idea what big games are about,” said Malone. “Having a veteran that’s been there and done that can also be reassuring for some of those guys.”
In a dramatic turn of events, Malone’s loyalty and continued support of his point guard is now being cited as a factor in Malone’s sudden termination.
According to a source from The Athletic, “Malone’s choice to continue supporting Westbrook — despite the frustration he was causing on and off the floor — ultimately led to a loss of credibility among the team’s key players. It was one thing when Malone handled Jokic and Murray with more leniency than the rest of their group, but affording Westbrook that sort of treatment, even with his Hall of Fame resume, wasn’t received well by some.”
The tension was visible. Under Denver’s new interim head coach David Adelman, Westbrook played just 17 minutes in a win over the Sacramento Kings, compared to his nearly 40 minutes on the floor against the Minnesota thriller.
Amid all the finger-pointing, however, Malone’s choices weren’t unfounded. With the game on the line, few would argue in favor of playing Jalen Pickett over a former MVP in Russell Westbrook.
In high-stakes minutes, experience carries more weight than one would think. If Malone’s bet on experience over potential lost him his tenure, it seems that no other coach in the NBA is safe.