Michael Malone, Nuggets agree to contract extension

The Golden Era in Denver is rolling on, and Michael Malone will be here for it.

The Nuggets and Malone agreed on an extension that will keep the Nuggets’ coach in Denver for the next several years. He’s now locked in going forward with the team that he helped lead to their first championship in franchise history.

This contract, according to ESPN, makes Malone one of the league’s highest-paid coaches.

Malone is the fourth longest-tenured coach in the NBA. Only the Spurs’ Gregg Popovich, the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra, and the Warriors’ Steve Kerr have coached their respective teams longer than Malone has been at the Nuggets’ helm.

Malone arrived in Denver in 2015 and took over a 30-52 Nuggets team that had no direction, identity, or culture. Then, as Nikola Jokic ascended and became a franchise cornerstone in Denver, Malone carefully cultivated a strong and organic culture that has served as the backbone of the organization throughout this era of Nuggets basketball.

Malone (375) has the third-most regular season wins in Nuggets history. Only George Karl (423) and Doug Moe (432) have more. He’s on track to soon become the franchise’s all-time wins leader. Malone already has the most playoff wins (37) in franchise history.

DNVR reported in September that several of Malone’s key assistants were entering the final years of their contracts. Most have options for the 2024-25 season that have yet to be picked up.