David Adelman Named Full-Time Head Coach After Steering Nuggets to Playoff Glory, Eyes NBA Championship with Jokić at Helm
On Thursday, the Denver Nuggets made David Adelman’s position permanent, removing the interim tag and officially naming him the team’s head coach. The decision came after Adelman, 44, helped guide the Nuggets through a turbulent period, stabilizing the team and leading them to a Game 7 showdown against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.
Adelman took over the reins last month, following the departure of Michael Malone. Under his leadership, the Nuggets managed to secure victories in their final three regular-season games, avoiding the dreaded NBA Play-In Tournament. In the playoffs, they battled the Los Angeles Clippers to a seven-game series victory before pushing the Thunder to the limit in a hard-fought second-round series. Though the Nuggets were ultimately defeated 125-93 in the decisive Game 7, the team’s performance under Adelman highlighted his ability to maximize their potential in high-pressure situations.
Nuggets president and governor Stan Kroenke expressed that while more time is needed to find a new general manager, securing a long-term head coach was a priority. With star center Nikola Jokić in the prime of his career, the organization is focused on making a push for an NBA title, and Adelman is the coach they believe can guide them to that goal.
