Michael Malone’s departure from the Denver Nuggets stirred controversy because it occurred before the NBA playoffs. Several days after his dismissal, Malone broke the ice, and he sent a message publicly for the first time since his exit.

Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has finally issued his first statement following his stunning firing on April 8. In Sunday's edition of the Denver Post, Malone expressed his gratitude to the Nuggets for giving him an opportunity,

Despite being the winningest coach in franchise history and guiding the team to the 2023 championship, Michael Malone was fired by the Denver Nuggets. It was a stunning move considering the Nuggets had only three games left in the regular season when Malone and general manager Calvin Booth were fired.