Latest news with #MichaelMalone
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michael Porter Jr. credits Michael Malone for jumpstarting his NBA career: "He threw me into the fire in the playoffs as a rookie"
Michael Porter Jr. credits Michael Malone for jumpstarting his NBA career: "He threw me into the fire in the playoffs as a rookie" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Michael Porter Jr. did not have the ideal start as an NBA player, but he discovered he belonged in the league thanks to Michael Malone. In a heartfelt tribute video to the Denver Nuggets organization, MPJ reflected on how his former coach helped jumpstart his career. Advertisement "I never got to really play college ball because of the injury," Porter Jr. said. "So, Coach Malone, thank you for helping me out, for helping me grow as a player. I remember I really broke out in the bubble… We had that break because of COVID, and then we went to the bubble, and I actually got a lot of playing time for the first time because a lot of guys had COVID. So, when I went there, I immediately was starting." "Coach Malone really threw me into the fire in those playoffs as a rookie. So, I appreciate you, Coach Malone," added the 6'10" forward. Malone put up with MPJ's growing pains Porter Jr. explained that he couldn't play in the 2018-19 season because of a back surgery. He had to wait another year to debut, but the world stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Months later, the league decided to push through with the season in Orlando's Disney World. Advertisement Because of the situation, Malone had to place his bet on a rookie with a questionable back. It didn't take long before Porter Jr. repaid that trust. He recorded 37 points and 12 rebounds in his second game at the bubble, followed by another 30-point outing. However, Porter Jr. opened the Orlando bubble on the wrong foot. Starting for the first time in his career, he had a quiet showing against Miami, logging only one rebound in 24 minutes. Still, his self-awareness and response to adversity convinced Malone to keep him in the rotation. "In between games, I got three texts from 'I have to be better, I can do better, stay with me,' all those things," Malone said, per Joel Rush of Forbes. "I said, 'Michael, I'm not going anywhere. I'm gonna stay with you. You're a hell of a young player and you're gonna continue to grow." MPJ had his share of rough outings the rest of the way, but effort was never the issue. He pulled down nine rebounds in Game 7 against Utah and added seven more in the Nuggets' second-round Game 7 win over the Clippers. In those series, Denver came back from a 3-1 deficit to advance. Advertisement Needless to say, Malone's belief laid the foundation for Porter Jr.'s rise. By trusting him in high-stakes moments early on, the coach gave MPJ the runway he needed to grow into a key contributor. Related: "When Michael Jordan says he's taking seven days off, that's a message" - Toni Kukoc on how losing to Orlando lit a fire in the Bulls and MJ From breakout to NBA champions with the Nuggets By the time Denver made its championship run in 2023, Porter Jr. had gone from a question mark to a reliable piece of a title team. He started all 20 playoff games, offering a rare combination of size, rebounding and timely shooting. Advertisement Even when his jumper wasn't falling, his willingness to defend and crash the glass showed how far he'd come from that one-rebound game against the Heat in the bubble. For all the challenges he encountered early on, Porter Jr. never forgot who gave him his shot. His message to Malone was a nod to the belief that sparked everything. Related: "They took a chance on me on that day" - Michael Porter Jr. shows heartfelt gratitude to the Nuggets after the trade This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nuggets Make Announcement on Former Champion During Free Agency
Nuggets Make Announcement on Former Champion During Free Agency originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Denver Nuggets have been busy making moves, and not just in the offseason. The first of the significant moves came at an alarming time, when they chose to fire both head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth just before the conclusion of the regular season. Advertisement That meant that the Nuggets, who earned the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, would be entering the NBA Playoffs with David Adelman in an interim role. Some believed the move would come back to bite the Nuggets. Instead, they defeated the then-red-hot Los Angeles Clippers in a grueling seven-game series in the first round. Nov 22, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) controls the ball under pressure from Dallas Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy (1) in the first quarter at Ball Arena. © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Nuggets make announcement on former champion during free agency While they were eventually eliminated from the playoffs in the second round, they pushed the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games, displaying that they were just a few moves away from contending for a title again next season. Advertisement Once free agency opened, the Nuggets remained active, bringing back their fan-favorite guard Bruce Brown, who helped the Nuggets win a championship in 2023. "Bruce Brown is coming back to Denver," the Nuggets posted on During the NBA Finals, Brown averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and one assist and steal per game. His most significant moment came in Game 4, when he scored 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. The Nuggets made another significant move when they traded Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 unprotected first-round draft pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson. Johnson averaged a career-high 18.8 points per game on a career-best 47.5% shooting percentage. Advertisement Between those two moves, the Nuggets are now expected to contend in a loaded Western Conference and have the third-best odds to win the conference next season behind only the defending champion Thunder and the Houston Rockets. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nikola Jokic reportedly tells Nuggets he will not sign extension this summer
The headline can raise eyebrows, but the reality is this is what was expected all along. Jokic is eligible for a three-year, $206.4 million extension as of July 8 — and Nuggets management has said they would offer it — but he told the Denver Nuggets that he is not going to sign it this summer, waiting to discuss a contract with the team next summer, reports Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. Advertisement The reason: He can get nearly $80 million more in a max extension next summer. The projected max he could sign at that time is $285.4 million. It is in Jokic's interest to wait. Jokic, 30, is not an older player or one with an injury history where there is an added motivation to grab the money on the table now because it might not be there in a year. It will be. Jokic is widely considered the best player in the world and is at the peak of his powers, coming off a season where he averaged a triple-double — 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game — and finished in the top two in MVP voting for the fifth consecutive season. Jokic returns next fall to a team that is going to be different. David Addelman is now the full-time head coach, having taken over for Michael Malone late in the season and leading the Nuggets to the second round and a Game 7 against the eventual champion Thunder. Michael Porter Jr. is gone, replaced by an equally good shooter but better defender and more consistent player in Cameron Johnson. There is more depth on the bench in the form of Tim Hardaway Jr. and the return of Bruce Brown. These Nuggets enter the season as legitimate title contenders. Advertisement And after what should be another impressive season, a max extension for Jokic will be on the table next summer.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nuggets promote Ben Tenzer to executive VP of basketball operations, hire Jon Wallace in front-office overhaul
The Denver Nuggets' front office is coming together following the team's shakeup toward the end of the regular season. The team reportedly promoted Ben Tenzer to executive vice president of basketball operations and hired Jon Wallace from the Minnesota Timberwolves to be its executive vice president of player personnel, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The moves come after the Nuggets surprisingly fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth with just three games left in the regular season. Advertisement Following those firings, Tenzer was promoted to interim general manager. He served in that role at the end of the regular season and through the Nuggets' playoff run. This story will be updated.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former NBA Star Reveals Next Move After Suspension
Former NBA Star Reveals Next Move After Suspension originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former NBA star DeMarcus Cousins made headlines for the wrong reasons recently. He was involved in a heated altercation with fans in Puerto Rico, leading to a severe punishment. Advertisement Cousins, who last played in the NBA in the 2021-22 season, was suspended for the remainder of the campaign in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional — Puerto Rico's top professional basketball league. This came after he made an obscene gesture and confronted hecklers sitting courtside while playing for the Mets de Guaynabo. Aside from his suspension, his contract was terminated by Mets de Guaynabo, just three months since joining them. He was also fined $4,250 for his actions and could face an additional $5,750. While Cousins has since apologized for what happened, the incident has put a major question mark over his basketball future. After all, his temperament and behavior on and off the court have been major issues throughout his career. The 34-year-old big man has NBA career averages of 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, but he only played 11 seasons in the league. Former Sacramento Kings head coach Michael Malone instructs center DeMarcus Cousins. © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images Now, while it remains to be seen what Cousins will do next in his basketball career, he revealed on Saturday his next personal move. Amid his issues, Cousins will make an appearance at the World Vape Show 2025 in Dubai. Advertisement According to the Alibarbar vape brand, Cousins will be live in their booth for the event, which will be held from Wednesday to Friday. Cousins himself shared the news on his official Instagram account. DeMarcus Cousins shares a post on Instagram Stories after he was suspended in Puerto Rico's top basketball Cousins/Instagram The event will be DeMarcus Cousins' first public appearance since his incident. Sure enough, it will be interesting to see if he will address his viral moment in Puerto Rico. Cousins has played for seven teams during his NBA career after he was drafted fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2010. He was a four-time All-Star and was at one point considered one of the best centers in the league. Related: Former NBA Star's Apology After Suspension is Turning Heads This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
