There has been a wave of injuries in the NBA playoffs, including to Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
During Denver’s Game 2 win Monday night to take a 2-0 series lead over the Phoenix Suns, Malone suffered a cut to his forehead. No, he didn’t grab Nikola Jokic’s elbow and he didn’t get into an altercation with Devin Booker. He got it from a pickle.
According to TNT’s Spero Dedes, Malone famously “took a paddle to the forehead” while playing pickleball earlier this week. He admitted that he did not follow his coaching advice.
Malone told Deedis, “You know, I preach to my players, but it was a 50/50 ball. I didn’t name it. I pointed a bat at his face.”
The Denver coach is known for his intensity even in off-court activities. During Orlando’s NBA bubble in 2020, Malone said he went on “sensible cycling rides” on the circuit.
The truth does not look comfortable. according to Chris Hines of Yahoo Sports, Malone “runs like crazy down the track on a road bike in sweltering heat and humidity as if he’s taking part in the Tour de France. The 49-year-old zips through the course at breakneck speed and then periodically pulls over to the side of the road and starts In performing push-ups at a frantic pace.
If this is how Malone comfortably rides a bike, it’s no wonder he plays pickleball as a blood sport. Also, in the rare healthy postseason for Denver players, it can be the case Somebody He must be hurt.
In 2020, the Nuggets made it to the Conference Finals with injuries to starters Gary Harris and Will Barton. Barton missed the first round in 2021, Michael Porter Jr. was injured in 2022, and Jamal Murray missed the 2021 and 2022 playoffs after tearing up his ACL late in the 2020-21 season.
So Malone takes one to the team, and the Nuggets lead 2-0. Now they just have to avoid the paddles and poker fists.