Nuggets’ Michael Malone Trolls LeBron James With Retirement Joke After Title Win

Michael Malone took a shot at LeBron James on the Pat McAfee Show on Thursday
The Nuggets coach fired a jab at the Lakers star, saying he was thinking of retiring
James hinted at retirement following the Lakers’ loss to the Nuggets in the Western Finals

Michael Malone still can’t stop his obsession with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Days after leading the Denver Nuggets to their first-ever NBA championship, the winning coach took another shot at the Lakers.

His target this time was LeBron James, with Malone trolling the Lakers star on the Pat McAfee Show.

Michael Malone, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, NBA — Michael Malone and LeBron James. Images: Matthew Stockman/ Alberto E. Rodriguez
Source: Getty Images

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Malone jokes about retirement

He said he was thinking about retiring, aiming a not-so-subtle jab at James, per Sports Illustrated.

LeBron suggested that retirement was an option for him following the Lakers’ loss to the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

That was all the media talked about after the series ended and not the Nuggets recording an impressive four-game sweep of the Lakers.

Malone blasts treatment of Nuggets

Malone blasted the media before Game 2 of the Western Finals, saying that his team was being disrespected despite taking a 1-0 lead over the Lakers, per Athlon Sports.

Los Angeles made a huge rally in the fourth quarter of Game 1 but ended up losing 132-126.

He took issue with fans and reporters who said that the Lakers figured something out toward the end of the opening game of the series, which will help James and co. beat the Nuggets and secure a spot in the 2023 NBA Finals.

Malone told reporters:

“We’ve seen this before, and Nikola’s going to figure it out, we’re going to figure it out. This is the first time I’ve ever been in a series up 1-0 and the series is over in everybody’s eyes because they put Rui Hachimura on Nikola Jokic for six possessions. So let’s see how it plays out tonight.”

Malone was proven right as the Nuggets swept past the Lakers in four games to reach the Finals for the very first time.

He basked in the glory of beating the Lakers as he mentioned them again before the Finals series against the Miami Heat started.

He said that the narrative should be on whatever two teams are still alive.

He pointed out that the focus should be on the Nuggets, saying “If anybody’s still talking about the Lakers in the NBA Finals, that’s on them. They’ve gone fishing, we’re still playing.”