The Denver Nuggets’ decision to fire Michael Malone with three games remaining in their regular season has sent shockwaves through the basketball world. As the team looks beyond 2024-25, ownership will face major organizational questions about maximizing Nikola Jokic’s future in a Nuggets jersey.
With this in mind, here are 10 possible candidates the franchise could consider to fill Malone’s shoes:
1. David Adelman: The most obvious candidate, Adelman has Jokic’s blessing and serves as an interim HC with tenure, familiarity, and locker room backing.
2. Frank Vogel: With championship pedigree and a strong defensive focus, Vogel is a top contender despite limited experience in Denver.
3. Mike Budenholzer: A proven title winner with Milwaukee, Budenholzer has an offensive savant reputation cemented as one of the league’s best.
4. Jordi Fernandez: The Denver native has strong ties to Malone and the Nuggets organization, making him a prime candidate despite being active in Brooklyn.
5. Taylor Jenkins: After leading Memphis to a Western Conference contender, Jenkins is a younger mind with experience molding young talent.
6. Sam Cassell: A former All-Star guard with 15 years of assistant-coaching experience, Cassell’s time as an NBA head coach is coming soon.
7. Mike D’Antoni: The 73-year-old coach has the potential to bring offense and excitement to Denver, despite a lack of experience since 2019-20.
8. Quin Snyder: A veteran coach with a proven track record in small markets, Snyder’s name would be an attractive option if Atlanta were to fire him.
9. Becky Hammon: With a storied coaching background at the Spurs and now leading the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, Hammon is destined for NBA head coaching roles.
10. Brad Stevens: The Boston Celtics coach is entrenched in his role but remains the most improbable candidate among these options.
As the Nuggets navigate this transition, one thing is clear: Jokic’s future will be at the forefront of their decision-making process.
Source: https://www.denverpost.com/2025/04/08/mike-malone-fired-nuggets-new-head-coach