Former Nuggets coach Michael Malone joining ESPN’s ‘NBA Countdown’ for 2025-26 season

Former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone found a home quickly following his surprising firing in the regular season. Malone joined ESPN for the playoffs, providing analysis on the biggest NBA games the rest of the season.

After not being hired for another head-coaching job over the offseason, Malone will run it back with ESPN during the 2025-26 NBA season. Malone will join “NBA Countdown” this year, ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro said at Front Office Sports’ Tuned In Summit, per Awful Announcing.

Advertisement

Pitaro didn’t get into specifics regarding Malone’s role, merely saying the network “brought Mike Malone in, and he will join [the NBA Countdown] team.”

Malone gained experience as an analyst with the network last season. After being fired with just three games left in the regular season, Malone joined ESPN to break down the playoffs. Malone acquitted himself well in the role, prompting ESPN to bring him back for another season.

David Adelman took over as the Nuggets’ head coach the rest of the way, leading the team to the second round, where they lost to the eventual-champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games.

Despite winning a championship with the Nuggets during the 2022-23 NBA season, Malone wasn’t hired by another NBA team over the offseason. As a television analyst, Malone will remain around the game and will continue to keep himself in the public eye whenever a job opening pops up. It’s a familiar tactic employed by a number of past and current NBA head coaches, including Doc Rivers, Stan Van Gundy and JJ Redick, among many others.

Advertisement

After a rocky start to his coaching career in Sacramento, Malone experienced plenty of success with the Nuggets. He spent 10 seasons with the team, piling up a .590 winning percentage and leading the team to a championship.

Given that success, Malone should be able to work his way into another head-coaching gig before long. Until then, he’ll continue to hone his skills as a broadcaster.