Nikola Jokic opened up about the rumors surrounding former Nuggets coach Michael Malone's job. He revealed that the team owner had already decided on Malone's fate but asked Jokic for his opinion. Jokic clarified he didn't influence the firing and only learned about it slightly earlier than others, putting an end to speculation that he played a key role.
Nikola Jokic spoke candidly on X&O's Chat podcast about the rumors surrounding former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone and the moments leading up to his firing.
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"Malone, he almost got fired. The owner came over to my place. We're sitting on the terrace, I'm sunbathing. It's a good story. This was actually the second time something like that happened," Jokic revealed.
The Nuggets star recalled the unusual timing of the visit. "He walks in through the door, and Vucevic, I'll throw him under the bus here, had sent me a bottle of tequila. I had just opened the box when the owner rang the bell and came in. At that point, I couldn't exactly hide it, the box was huge. So I said: 'Josh, look, it's not what you think. I just got it as a gift. I'm not celebrating anything.'"
Jokic described how the conversation quickly turned to Malone's future. "Then he comes up to me and says: 'What do you think, should we fire the coach?' The decision had basically already been made. This was about five games before the playoffs."
When asked for his input, Jokic shared his honest reaction. "'Maybe you should wait?' And he asked me: 'What do you want to see happen? Do you want the team to wake up? Do you want to see if the coach can handle it? What's your idea?' I said: 'I think you've already answered your own question.'"
He was clear about his role in the situation. "So when people say that I fired Malone or that I saved him, that's nonsense. I just found out a little earlier than everyone else."
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