The Denver Nuggets are a sneaky playoff contender in the Western Conference seemingly every season, and lately, that can be thanked in part to head coach Michael Malone. The Nuggets rewarded the coach on Wednesday by giving him a two-year contract extension just ahead of their season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. Malone was entering the final year of his current contract, as he is now with the team through the 2020-2021 season.
The Nuggets are predicted to be in contention for one of the final three playoff seeds in the loaded West, as they finished just a game out of the playoffs last season with a 46-36 record. The race for the eighth and final playoff spot came down to the final day of the regular season, as their overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves kept them out in favor of the T'Wolves. Denver has not been in the Postseason in five years, which is a skid they feel oh-so close to breaking.
Malone has been in the league as a coach since the 2001-2002 season, as he finally found his first head coaching gig with the Sacramento Kings after four different assistant jobs. That lasted less than two seasons, as he was fired after just 24 games in to the 2014-2015 season. He has a .449 win percentage as a head coach, but has improved his record in all three seasons with the Nuggets.
The Nuggets are predicted to be in contention for one of the final three playoff seeds in the loaded West, as they finished just a game out of the playoffs last season with a 46-36 record. The race for the eighth and final playoff spot came down to the final day of the regular season, as their overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves kept them out in favor of the T'Wolves. Denver has not been in the Postseason in five years, which is a skid they feel oh-so close to breaking.
Malone has been in the league as a coach since the 2001-2002 season, as he finally found his first head coaching gig with the Sacramento Kings after four different assistant jobs. That lasted less than two seasons, as he was fired after just 24 games in to the 2014-2015 season. He has a .449 win percentage as a head coach, but has improved his record in all three seasons with the Nuggets.