According to multiple reports, Nikola Jokic was not always seeing Michael Malone in a positive light. In fact, the three-time MVP grew “frustrated” and “fatigued” by his coaching style.
Beyond the frustration and fatigue of his style, the way the team was operating since the middle of March made Jokic start to lose patience.
Per the man himself, owner Josh Kroenke came to Jokic about his decision and the big man accepted it with no problems. He stated he knew before everyone else about the eventual changes happening within the organization.
Kroenke tried making the Calvin Booth, Malone dynamic work. However, both men held no relationship and almost to the point of pure hatred and refusal to work with each other.
“The stuff off the court was even worse than the stuff on the court,” one Nuggets source said. “Everyone felt the weight of it.”
Per The Athletic, after the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins games away from the postseason, this influenced Denver’s decision to end the relationship with their own head coach.