"Nikola Jokic: Nuggets informed of Mike Malone's impending dismissal"

Before the guillotine fell on head coach Michael Malone in Denver, ownership informed three-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the impending change before meeting with the now-dismissed team brass on Tuesday afternoon.

Malone, who led the Nuggets to the NBA championship in 2023, was terminated and general manager Calvin Booth was notified that this season would be his last.

Jokic emphasized on Wednesday that he had no say in either decision. He stated that the news was relayed to him directly by Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, the team's owner, and described a one-sided conversation that was not up for discussion.

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\"I was aware a little bit before everyone else,\" Jokic said on Wednesday night after the Nuggets defeated the Sacramento Kings to break a four-game losing streak.

\"And he told me, \'We have made a decision.\' So it was not a discussion. It was a decision. He explained the reason to me. And I listened. And I accepted it. I will not disclose what he told me. I will keep that private.\"

Denver (48-32), playing their first game under interim coach David Adelman, is currently tied for fourth place with the Los Angeles Clippers. They are one game behind the Los Angeles Lakers (49-31) and just ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies (47-32) and the Golden State Warriors (47-33) in a tightly contested Western Conference playoff race.

The regular season concludes on Sunday.

Jokic stated that the change, with only four games remaining in the regular season, sent a clear message.

\"I mean, when someone wants to change the energy, that's probably what they do,\" he said. \"In my country, if someone gets fired, the word is probably that you are next to be fired.\"

Jokic continued his pursuit of becoming just the third player ever to average a triple-double for a season, recording 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists against Sacramento (39-41).

\"I texted him,\" Jokic said about reaching out to Malone. \"We had a 10-year relationship... it was a tough day for everyone, especially for him and his family. But I would say it's part of the business.\"