Offhand Comment or Sharp Critique? Former NBA Coach Surprises Viewers with Remark During Playoff Coverage

Following his recent dismissal, former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone caused a stir on Wednesday (AEST) by seemingly endorsing Oklahoma City superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as this season’s NBA MVP.

The competition for the award is tightly contested between the standout guard and Denver’s own Nikola Jokic, with the announcement still pending.

Traditionally, the NBA reveals its award winners before the conference finals, but this year’s MVP announcement may have been postponed amid concerns that Gilgeous-Alexander could be eliminated by Jokic and the Nuggets in the second round.

The timing of Malone’s comments has certainly added an element of intrigue, especially considering the ongoing competition between the two stars.

After Oklahoma City’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Malone shared his thoughts: “Shai showed why he’s the MVP,” during his post-match analysis on ESPN.

The fallout from Malone’s departure from Denver was significant, with reports of internal discord between him and general manager Calvin Booth prior to the significant dismissal prior to the playoffs.

His recent remarks stand in stark contrast to his earlier statements this season, where he firmly backed Jokic for the MVP title, insisting in March that he deserved it “10 times out of 10.” Malone expressed frustration towards anyone who disagreed, calling them insincere.

The Nuggets’ choice to part ways with Malone was particularly jarring, given their success just two seasons ago.

Kevin O’Connor, an NBA reporter for The Athletic, reacted sharply on Twitter: “There’s no way to interpret this other than as a shot at Jokic.”

On the other hand, Australian NBA journalist Sam Vecenie had a more lenient interpretation of Malone’s remarks, attributing them to his inexperience in post-game television.

Vecenie tweeted, “I think people are interpreting this as a dig at Jokic when it’s more likely that Malone just isn’t used to making on-camera statements and offered a throwaway comment.”

Regardless of Malone’s intent, his comments have overshadowed the opening of the Western Conference Finals.

In the first match, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 of his 31 points in the second half, leading the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder to a commanding 114-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After an underwhelming start, he made 8 of 14 field goal attempts in the second half.

“I didn’t change my mindset, honestly,” he remarked, “I just focused on being aggressive and trusting my preparation.”

Julius Randle led the Timberwolves with 28 points but only managed eight in the second half.

Anthony Edwards, who was averaging 26.5 points per game in the playoffs, finished with 18 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

“I definitely need to be more aggressive. I only took 13 shots; I’ll probably need to play off the ball more,” said Edwards.

“I’ve got to watch some film and figure it out.”

The Thunder’s defence stifled their efforts, forcing Minnesota to adapt their game plan going forward.

“They’re relying on us missing our shots,” he noted, “Every time I drive to the basket, it feels like four defenders are waiting for me. They just crowd the paint, making it hard to finish.”

The Thunder emerged victorious just two days after eliminating Denver in a tough seven-game series, while the Timberwolves had enjoyed a week’s rest since their last match.

At halftime, Minnesota held a slight 48-44 advantage, led by Randle who scored 20 points at that time and hit 5 of his 6 attempts from beyond the arc. Despite struggles, Gilgeous-Alexander had managed to net only 11 points on 2-of-13 shooting before the break.

“To come out and play as poorly as we did in the first half but only be down by four is a huge accomplishment for us at halftime,” remarked Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.

Oklahoma City sparked a 10-0 run in the third quarter, flipping the game with a 66-60 lead. Shortly after, Kenrich Williams, a seldom-used substitute this postseason, made a mid-range jumper followed by a three-pointer on consecutive plays, extending the Thunder’s lead to 71-62.

The Thunder dominated the third quarter, outscoring Minnesota 32-18, to hold a 76-66 lead heading into the final frame. A spectacular spinning dunk by rookie Chet Holmgren further excited the crowd, establishing an 86-75 advantage for Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander made an impressive shot while fouled, converting the free throw to make it 91-77 with seven minutes left on the clock.