Nuggets coach Michael Malone used to ask himself if he’d ever get another chance.
His tenure in Sacramento ended unceremoniously and abruptly during the 2014-’15 season, leaving the long-time assistant wondering if that was it.
By the start of the next season, Nuggets owners Stan and Josh Kroenke, along with team president Tim Connelly, made Malone their guy. Seven seasons later, Malone basked in his 300th win as the Nuggets’ coach, relishing Thursday’s 128-110 victory, which came, ironically, in the Kings’ arena.
Will Barton’s Nuggets tenure began one season before Malone arrived. It was fitting that he was the one to mess with Malone prior to Thursday’s tip-off.