Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has changed his tune on who he thinks should win this year’s NBA MVP award.
Back in March, when he was still head coach of the Nuggets, Malone went on a passionate rant about why Denver star Nikola Jokic should win his fourth MVP award this season despite a stellar season from Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Shai is a great player. And if he wins his first MVP, he’s deserving of that,” Malone told reporters on March 10 after the Nuggets beat the Thunder 140-127. “My thing is this: If you didn’t know that Nikola won three MVPs, and I put Player A and Player B on paper, and you had no idea that the guy who’s averaging a triple-double, the guy who’s top-three in the major statistical categories (had already won three) … he wins the MVP 10 times out of 10. And if you don’t think so, I think you guys are all full of (expletive).”
One month later, the Nuggets sent a shock wave through the NBA landscape when they fired Malone with a week left in the regular season and the team’s record at 47-32.
Now with some free time on his hands, Malone joined ESPN as an analyst for the NBA Playoffs. And after Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday, it appears his MVP allegiances have switched.
“Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed why he’s the MVP,” Malone said after the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1.
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The Thunder star took over Game 1 in the second half and finished with 31 points, nine assists and five rebounds in a dominant win.
However, it’s hard to believe that would’ve been enough to sway Malone’s mind if he were still employed by the Nuggets.
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