BuzzReport

The Denver Nuggets fired Michael Malone in early April after the team lost four straight games. Denver’s consecutive losses were the last straw in Malone’s stint with the Nuggets, which he guided to the 2023 championship. The champion coach now works for ESPN as part of the crew covering the Western Conference finals.

Malone did not hold back when asked how the OKC Thunder rallied to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1 on Tuesday. He said that Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “showed the world why he’s the MVP.”

Fans promptly reacted to his comment.

“now we understand why jokic fired michael malone”

One fan said:

“Crazy considering the actual MVP is the reason he got 10 years of paychecks”

Another fan added:

“Switching up on the player who made your career he’s nothing without Jokic I’m praying on his downfall”

@IsoBrunson continued:

“HE KNOWS JOKIC IS OVERWEIGHT”

@EpicNormie__ commented:

“Jokic made his career lol”

Michael Malone’s comments on Tuesday created a buzz since he coached the Denver Nuggets for all but four games in the regular season. Over the past five years, he has maintained that Nikola Jokic, his former team’s franchise cornerstone, was the best player in the NBA. Malone would not have made the same claim about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Tuesday had Denver not fired him.

Last year, Jokic pipped SGA for the MVP award. The two are in another photo finish for the same recognition this time. Malone gave his verdict on national TV about who should win the battle.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s second-half performance impressed ex-Nuggets coach Michael Malone

The OKC Thunder faced a 48-44 halftime deficit against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 on Tuesday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a slow start, came alive in the third quarter to help his team grab control of the game.

SGA had 10 points and three assists in the third frame. The MVP contender also helped Oklahoma shackle the Timberwolves, limiting Anthony Edwards and Co. to 18 points in the period. The former Denver Nuggets coach could not help but be impressed by the superstar he could have been gameplanning against in the playoffs this year.

Oklahoma’s surge after halftime gave them a 76-66 lead entering the fourth quarter. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander kept going, delivering eight points and two assists to push his team to a comfortable 114-88 win.