“I’ll start with me. We’ve lost four games in a row, and I’m never going to this guy, that guy. How about me as a head coach, you know, not doing my job to the best of my ability?” These were Michael Malone’s words a day before the Denver Nuggets fired him. Nikola Jokic & Co. lost four consecutive games back then. With the playoffs breathing down their neck, the stakes were high. So, for many fans, firing the head coach seemed like a ‘preventive measure.’ But for Mike? It opened up new opportunities despite a slight sense of unease.

Five months of break, with a series of conversations about Malone joining the New York Knicks as their new head coach. But no, the 54-year-old won’t be returning to the sidelines putting on a franchise’s suit. Instead, he will share his insights on the game of basketball through ESPN. He joined the network during the 2025 playoffs, and now he will be a part of NBA Countdown, starting this year.

Meanwhile, speaking with Frank Isola of SiriusXM NBA Radio, the ex-NBA coach cleared his stance on becoming a TV star. Is becoming a coach still on his mind? Is that a possibility still? “In my heart, Frank, I’m a coach. I’m the son of a coach. It’s definitely something I’d love to get back in. I still have a bad taste in my mouth with how things ended in Denver, and I’d love to go out on my own terms,” Michael Malone stated.

He added, “With that being said, what I’ve learned over my many years in this league is how important it is to go to work every day with people you care about, you trust, you respect, and that are all pulling in the same direction.”

Malone concluded his message: “So when I have a chance to go back into the NBA, I just want to make sure I’m working with a group of people that are like-minded. Share a common vision, and are willing to do whatever it takes to make that vision become a reality. If that situation pops up, I would love to get back on that sideline. I’m a competitor, I’m a teacher, and I am a coach first and foremost—TV star second.” 

Coach Malone might rightly earn the label of the greatest leader for the Denver Nuggets. Because, well, his decade-long hard work brought their first NBA championship in 2023. For once, even you’d believe he was untouchable. But the truth lies in the fact that no one in the NBA is untouchable. Well, the story goes something like this…

Tensions between the Nuggets’ coaching staff and front office ran deep, with the head coach and GM rarely speaking outside meetings mediated by Kroenke. This friction bled into the locker room and team culture, prompting the Kroenke family to fire both after careful deliberation. Now, that’s the bitter past that still lingers with an aftertaste in Michael Malone’s mouth.

However, what lies ahead of him is a new beginning. Surely not from the hardwood sidelines, but from the studio, where his voice will echo louder than the buzzer.

Michael Malone will join ESPN’s NBA Countdown for the 2025-26 season

Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone wasted no time finding a new platform after his surprising firing late in the regular season. He joined ESPN to break down the playoffs, offering sharp insights on the biggest NBA games. Malone impressed with his analysis, showing the same intensity and basketball mind that made him a championship coach. His performance cemented his return to the network for the 2025-26 season.

Malone will now join “NBA Countdown,” ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro confirmed at Front Office Sports’ Tuned In Summit, per Awful Announcing. Pitaro offered few details, merely stating, “brought Mike Malone in, and he will join [the NBA Countdown] team.” Despite winning a championship with Denver in 2022-23, Malone remained without a head-coaching job, using television as a platform to stay visible, a tactic mirrored by Doc Rivers, Stan Van Gundy, and JJ Redick.

Michael Malone’s story refuses to sit quietly on the bench. Fired, yet unbowed, he traded the hardwood for the spotlight, turning the studio into his new arena. His sharp mind, championship experience, and fiery passion now guide viewers instead of players. While the Nuggets’ past still lingers, Malone’s future gleams brighter than ever. Coaching waits, but for now, he commands attention in a whole new way.