The Nuggets' coaching staff is running it back in 2023-24

After coaching the Nuggets’ to the first NBA championship in franchise history, Michael Malone’s entire coaching staff is expected to return for the 2023-24 season, a source told DNVR.

That group includes Malone’s front-row assistants — David Adelman, Ryan Saunders, and Popeye Jones — as well as Charles Klask, Ogi Stojakovic, and more of Malone’s support staff.

Several key members of Malone’s staff are entering the final year of their contracts, a source told DNVR. Most of them have options in their contracts for the 2023-24 season that have yet to be picked up.

Adelman, the Nuggets de-factor offensive coordinator and son of Hall of Fame coach Rick Adelman, is considered by many around the NBA to be a rising star in the coaching ranks and is expected to be on many teams’ short-lists for future head coaching openings. Entering his sixth season in Denver, Adelman has repeatedly drawn praise from the Nuggets’ roster and many throughout the organization for his coaching acumen and preparation.

“I really think DA is a guy who’s going to be a head coach,” Nikola Jokic said last season. “He knows the answers. He reads and reacts.”

Another coach expected to return to Malone’s staff is Stojakovic, a Nuggets assistant and the director of Denver’s player development. Stojakovic has been on staff in Denver since the 2013-14 season and is a trusted confidant of Nikola Jokic. He was on Serbia’s coaching staff during their recent silver medal run at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Nuggets player development coach Boniface N’Dong and video coordinator Connor Griffin were both on former Nuggets assistant and Canada head coach Jordi Fernandez’s staff during the World Cup as well. Canada captured the bronze medal.