"I want to follow it up with action": Michael Malone, Nuggets staffers take part in Juneteenth march

Michael Malone made it known over two weeks ago that it was going to take a lot more than a statement or symbolic message coming from the Nuggets’ organization to bring about the lasting change that’s needed following the death of George Floyd and other African Americans at the hands of the police over the last several years.

“We’ve done that. We’ve been there, we’ve done that. That has done nothing,” Malone said. “We have to dig a lot deeper. We have to get our players involved with the local police and I think every NBA head coach is trying to do the same thing with their team.”

Malone and the Nuggets have stayed true to their word. Last weekend the team organized a town hall Zoom meeting with Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and Friday morning participated in a silent Juneteenth march throughout downtown Denver.

Juneteenth is being recognized as a holiday this year by many NBA teams including the Nuggets and commemorates June 19th 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in the United States were freed. Kroenke Sports Enterprises gave their employees the day off and Malone wanted to find a way for Nuggets staffers to be active in the community together.

The holiday march began at the Martin Luther King Jr. monument in Denver’s City Park and ended at the state capitol.

Malone, along with assistant coaches Charles Klask, Ryan Bowen and John Beckett, assistant general manager Calvin Booth, player development coaches Ognjen Stojakovic and Stephen Graham, strength coaches Felipe Eichenberger and Claus Antunes de Souza, and the team’s video and public relations teams were among the staffers on hand.

“I’m trying to do anything I can do to lend my support and be an ally to end the racism, police brutality, and all the other things that we’re fighting to change,” Malone said via the Nuggets’ social media channels. “I don’t want to be somebody that just talks about it. I want to follow it up with action. And today it was great to see the turnout and be a very small part of something that’s much bigger than myself.”

The Nuggets’ organization has maintained a strong presence at rallies since Floyd’s death on May 25. President of basketball operations Tim Connelly along with players including Gary Harris, Monte Morris, and PJ Dozier attended rallies in Denver while Jerami Grant marched back home in Washington D.C.

“This is the moment. And I don’t want to be on the sidelines in the moment,” Malone said. “I want to be a part of it.”