A lot can change in a short period of time in the NBA and Michael Malone contract extension is a good example.. One minute, the Denver Nuggets – led by head coach Michael Malone – were favorites to win their second straight title. In the blink of an eye, they were eliminated and looking forward to the future.
Though the results were disappointing, the Nuggets have a lot to look forward to with Malone at the helm. With Malone in the fold for the foreseeable future, the Nuggets still have plenty to be happy about, especially since he became the franchise’s all-time wins leader.
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Michael Malone Becomes Franchise’s All-Time Wins Leader
With their latest victory, Michael Malone secured his 433rd win as head coach of the Denver Nuggets, surpassing Doug Moe to become the franchise’s all-time wins leader. Since his arrival in Denver nearly a decade ago, Malone has worked alongside some exceptional players to transform the Nuggets into one of the league’s elite teams.
Malone’s tenure has been marked by more than just wins—he has established a culture of stability and success in a city where NBA basketball wasn’t always the top priority. This milestone is a testament to his dedication and vision, and as his legacy continues to grow, Malone is destined to be remembered as one of the greatest figures in Nuggets history.
Michael Malone Teams Coached Throughout the Years
Malone has been with the Nuggets since 2015, making him one of the longest-tenured coaches in the NBA. Before that, he had bounced around quite a bit, especially as an assistant coach starting with the New York Knicks in 2001.
From 2001-2013, Malone was an assistant for the Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets, and Golden State Warriors before getting the head coaching job for the Sacramento Kings. The Kings unceremoniously fired him just 24 games into his first year, setting the stage for him to join the Nuggets.
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone in the first half of Game 7 of an NBA second-round playoff series against the Sunday, May 19, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Michael Malone Contract Extension: All the Details
Though Malone was already under contract with the Nuggets through the 2024-25 season, things changed after the 2022-23 campaign. Malone, with a huge helping hand from two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, led the Nuggets to their first NBA Championship.
A two-year extension came later in the fall, keeping Malone in town through the 2026-27 season. Though it has been said that he will be among the highest-paid coaches in the NBA, the actual terms of the deal still have not been disclosed since the signing in November 2023.
It is safe to say that he is somewhere in the neighborhood of $8 million per season. That puts him in range with Eric Spoelstra of the Miami Heat ($8.5 million) and Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors ($9.5 million).
Mony Williams of the Detroit Pistons ($13 million) is the second-highest-paid coach in the NBA behind only Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs ($16 million).
Malone has earned his deal throughout the years. The Nuggets have continued to get better since Malone took over in 2015, culminating in the franchise’s first title in 2023.
What is Michael Malone’s Net Worth?
Michael Malone reportedly has a net worth of around $8 million. Contract details surrounding many NBA coaches are surprisingly clandestine.
Though the number of years is typically divulged, salaries are only mentioned for the top handful of coaches.
Malone has no doubt earned a healthy living as the coach of the Nuggets for the better part of the last decade.
This bump in salary following the NBA Championship win will no doubt set him up for the rest of his life.
Michael Malone in 2020
A Look Ahead: Nuggets Fans Should Trust Michael Malone
Though there is some ire about the way the Nuggets were eliminated, fans should trust the process. The Nuggets have entered yearly contender status and will no doubt be among the favorites to win heading into the 2024-25 season.
Since joining the Nuggets, Malone has helped lead them to the playoffs the last six years. The Nuggets have had fewer than 46 wins just twice in that span as well.
In 2020, they lost in the conference finals to the Los Angeles Lakers before finally hitting a turning point.
NBA Championship
The Nuggets were dominant during the 2022-23 season. Jokic, coming off back-to-back MVPs the previous two years, was also dominant to the point that many felt voter fatigue kept him from his third consecutive MVP award.
After winning the Northwest Division, the Nuggets steamrolled a path through the playoffs. In the end, the Nuggets dispatched the surprising Heat in five games in the NBA Finals.
It was not only the first Finals appearance for Malone but the franchise as well.
Contender Status
Winning a title was big for more reasons than one. Earning a championship is what every player and coach strives to achieve, but the 2022-23 season had a larger impact on the franchise as a whole. Previously, the Nuggets managed to have a few good years but never quite felt like they could get over the hump.
Losing to the Lakers in 2020, it felt as though the Nuggets were on the cusp of turning a corner. With Jokic, Jamal Murray, and a talented team in place, it felt more like the Nuggets would be back and someday get over that proverbial hump.
Even this season, which ended in disappointment, has to be seen as a positive. The Nuggets won a franchise-record 57 games, finishing 2nd in the Northwest Division as part of a stacked Western Conference.
These Nuggets feel like they are a threat to go on a run and win another title in a way that previous incarnations never could achieve.
Final Thoughts
Having Michael Malone locked up for the near future is a wonderful thing for the Nuggets. He is clearly one of the best coaches in the NBA, and the ascension of the franchise really came when he stepped into the head coaching role.
With three division titles and an NBA Championship under his belt, many feel that Malone still has big things ahead. At 52 years old, he’s got many years left to go as a head coach in the NBA.
With a talented roster and a now-three-time MVP in Jokic on the floor, the Nuggets are in uncharted waters for the franchise as a whole. It is a good time to be a fan of the Denver Nuggets.
