Former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who the franchise fired days before the 2025 NBA playoffs opened, raised eyebrows when he stumped forShai Gilgeous-Alexander over Nikola Jokić for the NBA MVP award.

2024-25 featured one of the best NBA MVP races in NBA history. Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander both delivered tremendous campaigns that forced voters to think long and hard about their decision.

Nikola Jokić didn't mince words when asked if his Denver Nuggets could still win a title with the core from its 2023 championship team.

The Denver Nuggets are headed home after a Game 7 loss in the conference semifinals for the second consecutive year, and face some difficult decisions this offseason.  Nikola Jokić remains one of the game's most dominant forces,

Jokić played the entire second half as Denver rode it stars. But fatigue was evident as OKC rallied for the pivotal Game 5 win.

After lobbying for Nikola Jokić to win MVP in March, the former Denver Nuggets head coach has changed his mind.

Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone is now on ESPN and he called Shai Gilgeous-Alexander NBA MVP and not Nikola Jokic.

"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, he showed why he's MVP," Michael Malone said Tuesday during an appearance on ESPN's postgame coverage when discussing the Oklahoma City Thunder's 114-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.