Did Mike Malone coldly cook Nikola Jokic with 'MVP' talk? Fans debate.
Some facts: Mike Malone used to be the head coach of the Denver Nuggets until he was shockingly fired by the franchise right before the NBA playoffs. He's now doing TV work for ESPN.
And now we get to wondering about something he said on television on Tuesday: he was talking about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing well in a Game 1 Oklahoma City Thunder blowout of the Minnesota Timberwolves and remarked, "He showed why he's the MVP."
Now, it could be Malone being honest about who should win NBA MVP. But the other candidate is the guy he was coaching just a few months ago in Nikola Jokic.
Was that intentional? Especially given that he was just talking about Jokic being MVP while he was head coach?
Fans wondered:
Mike Malone 2 months ago: 'Jokic is the MVP'Mike Malone tonight: 'SGA is the MVP' 😭 pic.twitter.com/817bDNLMfW
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) May 21, 2025
"[Shai] showed why he's the MVP."Mike Malone, former coach of the Denver Nuggets, calls SGA the MVP 👀 pic.twitter.com/v8J4m4QOil
— Underdog (@Underdog) May 21, 2025
Mike Malone on an all time petty tour https://t.co/0pTg0Kthkr
— KENNY BEECHAM (@KOT4Q) May 21, 2025
Mike Malone just said SGA is the MVP He HATES the Nuggets & Jokic now 😂💀 pic.twitter.com/XyRfqSv4fc
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) May 21, 2025
Hmmm.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Mike Malone ripped Nikola Jokic with SGA MVP talk? NBA fans think so
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