Where will Michael Malone coach next? Top potential NBA landing spots for former Denver Nuggets head coach

After ten years with the Denver Nuggets and a championship under his belt, Michael Malone’s sudden exit has the NBA buzzing. His departure could shake up multiple franchises heading into the 2025–26 season. The timing sent shockwaves. Just three games before the end of the 2024–25 regular season, the Denver Nuggets stunned the league by firing Malone, despite a 47–32 record and a fifth-place standing in the Western Conference.
Team vice chairman Josh Kroenke called the move “carefully evaluated,” saying it was about giving the Nuggets the “best chance at competing for the 2025 NBA Championship.” Malone leaves as the most successful coach in franchise history, with a 471–327 record and a 2023 NBA title to his name. But it wasn’t just Malone who got sacked. General manager Calvin Booth was also dismissed following reports of ongoing friction between the two over roster decisions. Ownership felt the season “was not going to end well” and believed a shake-up was needed to spark the team before the playoffs. Assistant coach David Adelman, who’s been on staff since 2017, will take over as interim head coach.

Michael Malone has built a strong reputation around the league, and it’s hard to see him staying on the sidelines for long. Here are five teams that could potentially be his next landing spot.

With Gregg Popovich still away from the bench after suffering a stroke in November, the Spurs face uncertainty at the top. If Pop steps down permanently, Malone’s structured approach and history developing Nikola Jokić could be an ideal fit for Victor Wembanyama.

ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel called the Spurs a situation “to keep a close eye on.”

Taylor Jenkins is out, and while interim Tuomas Iisalo is being considered, Memphis needs long-term stability. Michael Malone’s defensive discipline and direct leadership style could be exactly what Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. need to reach their full potential and guide the team back into playoff contention.

A chance to rewrite history? Malone was controversially fired midseason by Sacramento back in 2014. Now, with Mike Brown out and a revamped core led by Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan, there’s clear intrigue. Malone hasn’t hidden his frustration with how Brown’s exit was handled, but a return to the Kings after more than a decade could mark one of the league’s most symbolic moments. If past tensions are smoothed over, it could be a full-circle comeback story.

If the Bucks move on from Doc Rivers after another underwhelming finish, Malone’s championship chops could appeal to a win-now roster led by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. He’s shown he can handle stars and deliver results. Milwaukee is looking to bounce back fast, and Malone’s experience might bring the steady leadership this roster needs to stay in title contention.

Nick Nurse hasn’t lived up to expectations, and another early playoff exit could prompt a change. Malone’s playoff pedigree and ability to get buy-in from veterans might be just what Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey need. A coaching change could be on the table if Philadelphia is serious about contending.
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Michael Malone, 53, has options. Whether he takes a brief break or dives right back into coaching, his phone will be ringing. His transformation of Denver from a middling team to NBA champions remains one of the league’s most impressive coaching feats. If the right opportunity comes along and old tensions are put to rest, a high-profile return could be on the horizon. With his leadership, postseason experience, and wide respect across the league, Malone still has plenty to offer any team looking for a culture reset or a serious championship push.