Michael Malone didn’t have the best ending to his tenure with the Denver Nuggets. Last season, management fired the head coach after 79 games into the 2024-26 campaign. He had been with the organization since 2015 and led the team to an NBA championship in 2023. But despite his loyalty and ability to lead the Nuggets to a title, it didn’t save him from getting fired.
Now, he’s an occasional guest as an analyst on ESPN shows. Ever since he got fired, he’d often participate as a media member on certain shows. However, that doesn’t mean that Malone is done coaching. On Thursday, he appeared as a guest on “Inside the NBA.”
During his appearance, former NBA player Kenny Smith asked Malone about his plans for the future. According to him, his days of coaching aren’t over, and he is looking to get back into the scene.
“The camaraderie,” Michael Malone said on what he misses the most about coaching. “My daughter asked me that same question.
“She said, ‘What do you miss most about coaching?’ And for me, you’re a competitor, I love building something, preparing, being organized. But the most important thing that I miss is being a part of something much bigger than myself. Being in that locker room with the players, being with the coaching staff, celebrating the big win.
"I'm definitely not done coaching."
Former Nuggets HC Michael Malone sets the record straight on Inside the NBA 😤🔥 pic.twitter.com/2qli9HJyKd
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 23, 2025
“I love my wife, I love my kids, I love my dogs. But I do miss being a part of that team camaraderie, locker room atmosphere. And I look forward to getting back to that. I’m definitely not done coaching. Coaching is in my blood, I got that from my father and I’m excited to get back, coaching on those sidelines and teaching once again.”
Michael Malone expects the Rockets to imitate what he did with the Nuggets
The Houston Rockets are expected to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference this season. With the addition of Kevin Durant, the Rockets now have a go-to scorer who could help them contend for a championship. But Michael Malone doesn’t think Durant will be the main factor for the Houston team.
According to Malone, he expects head coach Ime Udoka to take a page out of his coaching book with the Nuggets. The former coach said that he expects Udoka to use All-Star center Alperen Sengun like the three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
“Alperen Sengun, kind of like what we did in Denver with Nikola Jokic, is going to lead the break. He’s going to initiate offense. He’s going to be a hub,” Malone said.
Sengun has shown that he’s capable of being the center of the offense for the Rockets. He could be a significant key to the Rockets’ success.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
