Nuggets Lose Game 7, Adelman Emerges Strong Head Coach Candidate

After the Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth late in the regular season, interim coach David Adelman led the team to a strong finish, including a first-round playoff victory and a competitive seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Adelman earned widespread praise from players such as Aaron Gordon, Nikola Jokic, and Jamal Murray for energizing the team and fostering belief despite the short notice and difficult circumstances. Nuggets governor Josh Kroenke expressed pride in the team's resilience and the way they rallied under Adelman's leadership, though he has not yet made a decision on Adelman's permanent role. Adelman, an assistant coach with the Nuggets since 2017, is widely regarded as a top candidate to become the full-time head coach, with players hoping he gets a full offseason and training camp to implement his philosophy. Despite the season ending in a blowout Game 7 loss to the Thunder, the organization's confidence in Adelman remains high, reflecting a positive outlook for the team's future direction. Adelman himself remains humble about the coaching decision, emphasizing that it is up to the franchise's decision-makers.