After the dismissal of head coach Michael Malone, interim coach David Adelman emphasized the importance of unity and focus during a team meeting prior to their game against the Sacramento Kings. Adelman, who previously served as Malone’s top assistant, assured the players they remained in contention for the playoffs despite recent struggles. He expressed, “The last 30 hours have been pretty crazy, pretty stressful for everybody. But the bottom line was we have to stay unified.”

The Nuggets, having previously reached the NBA finals under Malone, now find themselves in a challenging playoff race, dropping to a tie for fourth place in the Western Conference. Adelman noted, “If the Nuggets win their last three games, they could finish as high as third in the West. We still have a great chance to do something special.”

In a move that reflects the urgency for improvement, general manager Calvin Booth was informed that his contract would not be renewed. Josh Kroenke, the president of the Nuggets, also conveyed a clear message to the players: “To be concise: Be better.”

Amidst this upheaval, Adelman stated, “It’s another NBA moment, you deal with it. We have to reach a better standard to compete in the playoff tournament.”