Michael Malone doesn’t know where he’ll hang the jersey. As long as it can be replaced by an updated version someday.
After the Nuggets wrapped up practice on Monday afternoon, general manager Calvin Booth surprised Malone with a framed custom jersey, commemorating his 433rd win as Denver’s coach this season, which set a new franchise record.
The number on the jersey was 433.
“Calvin Booth had that made, so obviously really appreciate the gesture. It came out really nice,” Malone said. “I guess I’ll have to get another one made when I’m done that says, like, ‘1,273.’”
The record-setting win came in Los Angeles, where the Nuggets crushed the Lakers in November. Malone, 53, shook his head and laughed after cracking the “1,273” joke, as if unable to imagine coaching that many years. It took 10 seasons to break Doug Moe’s record.
Team owner Stan Kroenke and team president Josh Kroenke were both in the practice gym at Ball Arena, along with Booth, to give Malone the jersey.
“It’s really cool, and for it to happen on a day when both Stan and Josh are here, and for them to say congratulations, I’m like, ‘Congratulations? Man, I just say thank you for allowing me to be here,’” Malone said. “And I always go back to the Game 82 against Minnesota, where 95 (percent) of any sports team owners would have fired me. But as Mr. K said, we understand that this is always a process. And you have to give things the time they need to fully develop.
“That’s a direct result of that kind of sound judgment and belief from ownership,” he said, pointing at the gift.
He was referring to a seminal moment in his coaching career back in April 2018. At the time, the Nuggets hadn’t made the playoffs yet under Malone when they collided with Minnesota in the final game of the regular season. Both teams were 46-25. The winner would make the playoffs. The loser would be done for the season.
Denver’s slow ascent toward the 2023 NBA championship was put on hold that day. The Timberwolves won in overtime.
But since then, Malone’s Nuggets have made the playoffs in six consecutive years, the longest active streak in the Western Conference.
Malone still maintains that he wasn’t holding his breath about job security after the loss.
“That was like the original play-in game before the play-in (tournament),” he said Monday. “And they as a franchise, Minnesota had gone all-in with vets, and we were playing two young puppies in Nikola (Jokic) and Jamal (Murray). And we wound up losing in overtime. … One day when you come to work, your key’s not gonna let you in. That’s just, it happens to every coach. And that’s part of this business, unfortunately. But if you can go home every night, look yourself in the mirror and know that you’ve done your best as a coach to help this team, help this franchise, then you can live with yourself, regardless of (ownership’s) decision.”
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