Sources – Nuggets’ Michael Malone will be among the highest-paid coaches

Malone’s new deal comes on the heels of leading the Nuggets to the 2023 NBA Championship, their first in franchise history. Malone’s long-term partnership with two-time MVP Nikola Jokic — coupled with the organization’s deep and stable roster — gives Denver a chance for several more seasons of championship contention.

Malone — who led Denver to a Western Conference-leading 8-2 record to start the 2023-24 season — spent eight seasons lifting the franchise from the lottery, to the playoffs and, ultimately, to the NBA title. Denver’s 16-4 performance in the 2023 playoffs was the league’s most dominant since the Golden State Warriors in 2017.

Malone is the league’s fourth-longest-tenured head coach — behind San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, and Golden State’s Steve Kerr. He holds a 375-272 (.580) regular season record with Denver and is 37-31 (.554) in the playoffs.

Under Malone, the Nuggets have the second-best winning percentage in the NBA since the 2018-19 season, behind only the Milwaukee Bucks, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Malone ranks third all-time in games played (647) and wins (375) among Nuggets coaches, behind Doug Moe and George Karl.