A Recent Report Reveals Nuggets Players With Michael Malone and Russell Westbrook

The Denver Nuggets’ dissatisfaction with Russell Westbrook and Michael Malone’s handling is revealed in a recent piece from The Athletic.

With the season coming to an end, the Denver Nuggets appeared to be in a solid position to make a run at the Western Conference playoffs. Even so, Nikola Jokic was playing his greatest basketball ever, and they had some positive momentum not even two full years after winning the NBA Finals. But when the Nuggets made the decision to alter, a four-game losing run seemed to be sufficient.

The Nuggets made an unprecedented step on Tuesday before the playoffs by firing general manager Calvin Booth and head coach Michael Malone.

More details about some possible causes started to surface as the move stunned people. Malone’s treatment of one experienced player may have been the cause, according to a recent story by The Athletic.

Players on the Nuggets began to lose faith in Michael Malone after he gave Russell Westbrook special treatment, per @TheAthletic

“…All the while, Malone’s choice to continue supporting Westbrook — despite the frustration he was causing on and off the floor — ultimately led to… pic.twitter.com/h8VJAytEmp

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 10, 2025

Sam Amick and Tony Jones of The Athletic wrote that the Nuggets players were angry with Malone’s handling of Russell Westbrook. Amick and Jones penned: “All the while, Malone’s choice to continue supporting Westbrook, despite the frustration he was causing on and off the floor, led to a loss of credibility among the team’s key players,”

“It was one thing when Malone handled Jokić and Murray with more leniency than the rest of their group, but affording Westbrook that sort of treatment, even with his Hall of Fame credentials, wasn’t received well by some,”

It was evident that Malone preferred Westbrook in games over others, particularly after his late-game performance in their overtime defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves, which might have been one of the last straws.

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