Calvin Booth and Kroenkes Give Michael Malone Custom Jersey for Nuggets’ Winning Record

Michael Malone doesn’t know where he’s going to hang the jersey. Provided it can one day be replaced by an updated version.

After the Nuggets’ practice ended Monday afternoon, general manager Calvin Booth surprised Malone with a custom framed jersey, commemorating his 433rd win as Denver’s coach this season, which set a new franchise record .

The number on the jersey was 433.

“Calvin Booth did it, so I obviously really appreciate that gesture. The result is really nice,” Malone said. “I guess I’ll have to make another one when I’m done that says, like, ‘1,273’.”

The record victory came in Los Angeles, where the Nuggets crushed the Lakers in November. Malone, 53, shook his head and laughed after he cracked the “1,273” joke, as if he couldn’t imagine coaching for that many years. It took 10 seasons to beat Doug Moe’s record.

Team owner Stan Kroenke and team president Josh Kroenke were both in the Ball Arena practice gym, along with Booth, to present Malone with the jersey.

“It’s really cool, and for it to happen on a day when Stan and Josh are here, and they can congratulate me, I’m like, ‘Congratulations?’ Man, I just say thanks for letting me be here,’” Malone said. “And I always go back to Game 82 against Minnesota, where 95 (percent) of the sports team owners would have fired me. But as Mr. K said, we understand that it’s still a process. And you have to give things the time they need to fully develop.

“This is a direct result of that kind of judgment and belief on the part of the owners,” he said, pointing to the gift.

He was referring to a notable moment in his coaching career in April 2018. At the time, the Nuggets had yet to reach the playoffs under Malone when they collided with Minnesota in the final game of the regular season. Both teams were 46-25. The winner would advance to the playoffs. The loser would be done for the season.

Denver’s slow climb to the 2023 NBA championship was put on hold that day. The Timberwolves won in overtime.

But since then, Malone’s Nuggets have made the playoffs six straight years, the longest active streak in the Western Conference.

Malone still maintains he wasn’t holding his breath about job security after the loss.

“It was like the original play-in game before the play-in (tournament),” he said Monday. “And as a franchise, Minnesota had gone all-in with veterans, and we were playing with two young puppies, Nikola (Jokic) and Jamal (Murray). And we ended up losing in overtime. …One day, when you come to work, your key won’t let you in. It just happens to all coaches. And that is unfortunately part of this case. But if you can go home every night and look in the mirror and know that you did your best as a coach to help this team, help this franchise, then you can live with yourself no matter what. or the (property) decision.

Want more Nuggets news? Subscribe to the Nuggets Insider to get all our NBA analysis.