The Denver Nuggets are set to enter a new coaching era under the leadership of David Adelman.
David Adelman has been appointed as permanent coach at the Denver Nuggets after impressing on an interim basis.
Adelman led the Nuggets to Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals, where they were ultimately defeated by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shams Charania reported how Nikola Jokic enjoyed Adelman’s coaching for the Nuggets. With approval from Aaron Gordon too, Denver decided to give Adelman a proper chance.
Adelman has already plotted his blueprint for the team moving forward, as he and the Nuggets begin preparing for 2025-26.
Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver PostDavid Adelman speaks out on replacing Michael Malone
Adelman took the coaching keys of the Denver Nuggets from the man responsible for his ongoing stay in the Mile High City.
Michael Malone, was sacked by the Denver leadership alongside general manager Calvin Booth with just three games left in the regular season.
It was Malone who brought Adelman to Denver in 2017 to be his lead assistant.
And after years of solid partnership in helping the Nuggets win the title in 2023, the 44-year-old confessed that he has mixed emotions about replacing his coaching mentor.
“It’s difficult. But like I said, I think we all know that as you move up in this league, you’re taking somebody’s job one way or the other,” Adelman said in his first exclusive interview as the Nuggets’ head coach.
“I think what he did here is never going to be forgotten. He’s the greatest coach in the history of this franchise, not even close. His leadership ability, the staff that he brought in, the ability to develop the players, all those things are incredible positives.
“I think you feel mixed feelings because you feel proud that you were a part of it with him, and then you feel proud that you made progression as a coach because of him. So it’s a weird feeling.”
Adelman offers appreciation to Malone
Despite his messy exit, Malone cemented his case as the greatest Denver coach of all time. He holds the franchise’s all-time coaching record in wins (471) and the one who served as the mastermind behind the Nuggets’ first-ever NBA title two seasons ago.
Many raised their eyebrows at the Nuggets decision to fire him. Kevin Garnett was among those who hit out at the decision.
Adelman could not be any prouder to be Malone’s successor and apply what he learned from him in aiding the Nuggets back on top.
“You think about him and his family and then there’s this flip side of you that goes, I can’t thank him enough for, one, the opportunity to come here, but two, to be ready to take this job. It’s because of him,” Adelman said about Malone, who now works as an analyst for ESPN.
“A lot of mixed feelings, but all I can say is he’s the reason I’m sitting here. He’s the reason why there’s a banner up there. So just nothing but an honor to work for him, and honestly, an honor to take the job, the seat that he had, and try to keep it at that level, that standard that we’ve had for so many years.”