Subscribe
Follow Us
The Denver Nuggets haven't made the playoffs in three seasons under head coach Mike Malone. Despite that unfortunate record, Malone says he never felt he was on the hot seat last season because the Nuggets' front office has been optimistic with the team's steady progression.
Sam Amick of The Athletic recently sat down with Malone to talk about the Nuggets' past struggles and how bright the young team's future is.
“It never even crossed my mind, just because in any of the conversations that I had with Tim and Josh during the season, and in the last few weeks, and in the last game, there was never any (sign of trouble),” Malone said. “You can get a sense of the room sometimes, like, ‘Oh, shit, fellas. It’s not looking good.’ But honest to God, Sam, there was not one time that I thought my job was in jeopardy.”
It's hard to forget how close the Nuggets were to finally ending their four-year playoff drought last season. The No. 8 seed in the Western Conference was up for grabs in Minneapolis on the last night of the regular season, but Malone and his young team couldn't get past the Minnesota Timberwolves that night.
But this young Nuggets team has a very promising season in front of them. Star center Nikola Jokic has the makings of a superstar written all over him. Combo guards Jamal Murray and Gary Harris can run and shoot with the best of them, and veterans Paul Millsap and Isaiah Thomas will definitely come in handy during the crucial stretches of each game.
In short, Malone should not worry about losing his job this season as his team is poised to finally make a breakthrough in the stacked West.
