Just a few months ago, Michael Malone was head coach of the Denver Nuggets and predicted that his biggest star, Nikola Jokic, would once again be named league MVP.
On Tuesday night, Malone was singing a completely different tune.
A video shared by DNVR Nuggets and others on X featured Malone making his MVP prediction after the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he showed why he’s the MVP,” Malone said.
“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he showed why he’s the MVP.”
😔 pic.twitter.com/kbJz49DeZt
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) May 21, 2025
Gilgeous-Alexander definitely performed well during Tuesday’s game, putting up 31 points, five rebounds, nine assists, and three steals, shooting 10-of-27 from the floor.
His game wasn’t perfect, but he looked comfortable and driven and was the lead force for his Thunder.
Still, it was surprising to see Malone say this because he was such a proponent of Jokic for years.
Under his leadership, Jokic became the brightest star in the NBA, won a championship, and was named MVP multiple times.
But a lot has changed for Malone over the last few weeks.
He lost his job with the Nuggets and has witnessed them get taken out by the very same Thunder team he was praising on Tuesday.
Some fans accused Malone of speaking about Gilgeous-Alexander this way because he is still upset about losing his job, while others feel he is making the right call.
The NBA still hasn’t announced who the MVP is, but it seems very likely that Gilgeous-Alexander will walk away with that prize.
But no matter what, certain Nuggets fans will remain upset about Malone’s prediction based on his history and working relationship with Jokic.
NEXT: Details Emerge About Christian Braun's Massive Contract Extension