The Denver Nuggets will be taking part in a new era of coaching under David Adelman’s leadership.
David Adelman was appointed permanent coach for the Denver Nuggets after being tentatively impressed.
Adelman led the Nuggets to Game 7, the Western Conference semi-finals, where they were ultimately defeated by Shy Gilgauss Alexander’s Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shams Charania reported that Nikola Jokic enjoyed coaching Adelmann’s nuggets. With approval from Aaron Gordon, Denver decided to give Adelman the right chance.
Adelman has already plotted his blueprint for the team to move forward as he and Nuggets began preparing for 2025-26.
Adelman took the Denver Nuggets coaching key from the head of his ongoing stay at Mile High City.
Michael Malone was fired from Denver’s leadership along with general manager Calvin Booth, who has only three games left in the regular season.
It was Malone who took Adelman to Denver in 2017.
And after years of solid partnerships helping the Nuggets win the title in 2023, the 44-year-old confessed that he’s mixing his feelings about replacing his coaching mentor.
“That’s difficult. But like I said, I think we all know that when you move up in this league, you’re taking someone’s job in some way,” Adelman said in his first exclusive interview as the Nuggets head coach.
“I think he’ll never forget what he did here. He’s the greatest coach in the history of this franchise and isn’t close.
“I think you have mixed feelings because you’re proud to be a part of it with him, and you’re proud to have made progress as a coach for him. That’s a strange feeling.”
Despite the messy exit, Malone solidified his case as the best Denver coach of all time. He held the franchise’s best coaching record ever in victory (471), and served as the mastermind behind the Nuggets’ first NBA title two seasons ago.
Many raised their eyebrows at the Nuggets’ decision to fire him. Kevin Garnett was among those who hit the decision.
Adelman was Malone’s successor and could not apply what he learned by aiding the Nuggets.
“You’re thinking about him and his family, and there’s this behind you. I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity to come here, but they’re both ready to do this job, that’s for him.
“There are a lot of mixed feelings, but what I can say is that he’s why I’m sitting here, and he’s the reason there’s a flag there. So, it’s an honor to work for him, and honestly, try to keep the seat he’s had and to that level.”