The Denver Nuggets’ shocking decision to fire manager Michael Malone continues to dominate the NBA conversation, and now there is a new revelation from Michael Porter Jr.
The move not only helped Michael Malone’s tenure, but also surprised fans and analysts, including the 2023 championship, but also due to the unique timing just before the postseason.
“He said he saw something we didn’t enjoy,” explained Michael Porter Jr.
“And he saw us not playing as hard as we could, so he wanted to come here and help reestablish it as the foundation of our culture.”
The revelation came during a meeting held by team owner Josh Kroenke with Nuggets players a day after the organization announced Malone’s firing.
The focus on team culture is particularly noteworthy given how instrumental it was during the championship run.
During the campaign that won the title, the Nuggets culture flourished. Players showed remarkable trust in each other with no visible signs of drama or tension.
However, there have been growing signs that Malone has lost his locker room recently, suggesting that some people seem to be indifferent to the situation that is getting worse.
The team’s performance reflects these internal issues as they suffered four consecutive losses before the coaching changes.
These include losses to playoff candidates such as the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors.
The impact of the coaching change quickly became clear, with the Nuggets returning to how to win in the first post-game game, securing a 124-116 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
As the postseason approaches, Denver will need to maintain this rejuvenation culture to ensure automatic playoff spots and lucrative seeds.
The current challenge is to turn this new energy into the victory mentality that previously led to the glory of the championship.