Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green has addressed the league’s controversial firing of Michael Malone.
The Denver Nuggets firing Michael Malone caught everybody off guard. NBA star CJ McCollum described the decision as ‘nasty’ in the immediate wake of the decision.
Former star Kevin Garnett also hit out at the Nuggets for not letting Malone see the season out, while Austin Rivers believes it is a growing sign of a lack of loyalty in the league.
Malone led the Denver Nuggets to win the NBA Championship just two years ago. And now current Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has criticized the Nuggets for their decision.
Four-time champion Draymond Green claims he has always supported Michael Malone from afar, and even sent a message to Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke to tell him.
Speaking on his podcast, Green explained that he messaged Kroenke early in Malone’s tenure in Denver.
“I text Josh Kroenke before, I mean years ago…. They had a quick playoff exit, I said ‘don’t be fooled by the noise, I think Mike Malone’s your guy, I think you all got your guy.
“And sure enough they ended up winning a championship with your guy, so my hunch was right.”
Responding to Malone’s firing, Green was unimpressed and blamed the Denver Nuggets players, for failing to continue the winning culture the coach had begun.
Amid claims Malone had lost the locker room with his no-nonsense approach, Green intimated that the Nuggets players lacked the intensity that helped his Warriors squad win four titles.
He said: “When I look at him being fired though, you look at the reports, people tired of his voice, tired of his hard coaching this kind of thing, I’m sorry to say, unfortunately that’s why people don’t win, because you get tired of hearing the voice that led you to being a winner.
“I will say, as the voice that some people get tired of at times, that helps lead to winner, I get why you can get tired of it. I totally understand.
“One thing that I know as a leader, I know people get tired of my voice at times, quite frankly I don’t give a s___.
“I know what it takes to lead to winning, and so to hear people say ‘they were getting tired of Mike Malone’s hard style…’ it makes complete sense to me.
“People get tired of being pushed, it’s why people don’t win over and over again.”
The Nuggets were reported to be ready to fire Malone before the All-Star break, before a winning streak delayed their plans.
But to wield the axe with three games before the playoffs was a completely ruthless move, and a desperate one, from an organization that were determined to shake things up.
The Warriors and Nuggets could yet face off in the post-season if their paths cross, but each team have to book their path, with wins still required in a tight Western Conference that is going to the wire.
