Nuggets decide Malone is their guy by giving him multiyear extension

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is here to stay.

Malone and the team agreed to a multiyear contract extension on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

ESPN Sources: Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone has agreed on a multi-year contract extension: https://t.co/mSwSqwo9uJ

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 23, 2022

While Woj didn’t have the exact number of years on the extension, he does note Malone “will now be tied to the franchise through what it hopes will be a window of championship contention over the next few years.” Malone’s current contract was set to expire at the end of next season in 2023.

Malone has 309 wins as the Nuggets’ head coach, good for third most in franchise history. Only George Karl and Doug Moe have won more games with Denver. The Nuggets have also won 20 playoff games under Malone’s guidance in their past three postseason appearances.

Denver is currently the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference with a 43-30 record, led by Malone and potential back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic. The team has played without Jamal Murray the entire year and Michael Porter Jr. most of the year, making what Malone and Jokic have done all that more impressive. Clearly Malone’s bosses, Josh Kroenke and Tim Connelly agreed, by granting him the extension.

Now Malone has to hold up his end of the bargain and lead the Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history. A parade would certainly be worth whatever it cost to keep him in town the next few years.

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