Ex-Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone issued a mea culpa during ESPN's pre-game coverage of Game 2 of the Western Conference finals.
Malone, who declared in a TV hit after Game 1 on Tuesday that Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the MVP, received obvious blowback from Nuggets fans who felt like star Nikola Jokic deserved the award instead. Gilgeous-Alexander captured his first MVP the following day.
Malone was clear on Thursday (amid plenty of social media hoopla) that he would have voted for Jokic if he was given a ballot.
"I did vote for [Jokic] again this year if I had a vote," Malone joked. "I want to make sure the people in Denver know that because right now I'm getting a lot of heat back home."
"I did vote for [Nikola Jokic] ... I want to make sure the people in Denver know that."
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 23, 2025
Michael Malone had to set the record straight 😂 pic.twitter.com/dIbYCeAQrh
It might be too little too late for Malone, who is learning in real time that what you say on TV, regardless of level of seriousness, can take a mind of its own.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Ex-Nuggets Coach Michael Malone Confirms His Pick Between Nikola Jokic, SGA for MVP.
