Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr weighed in on the shocking dismissal of Michael Malone as head coach of the Denver Nuggets.

© Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesHead coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center.

The NBA world was shaken yesterday by the unexpected news that the Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone and General Manager Calvin Booth. 

While the Nuggets weren’t meeting their preseason expectations, the decision to part ways with Malone came as a surprise to many. Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr shared his thoughts on the situation.

Malone’s dismissal comes just ten days after the Memphis Grizzlies made a similar move by firing Taylor Jenkins.

Both decisions raised eyebrows, particularly because both teams are playoff-bound. Before the Warriors’ win against the Suns, Kerr spoke about the surprising news.

“Shocked, like everyone,” Kerr told reporters. “Mike has obviously been a great, great coach, championship coach, and fantastic record, and again, like with Taylor [Jenkins], you don’t expect anything like this, this late in the season“.

Kerr subtly hinted at a broader trend that might explain the wave of coaching changes in the NBA.

“I think one thing that’s happened is, most teams are now owned by billionaires, big corporations,” Kerr continued. “So we’re all more expendable. There’s so much money in the business now, and there’s pluses and minuses to that”.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr greets Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone prior to their NBA preseason game at Chase Center. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

He elaborated on the financial dynamics of the league: “We’re all making bigger salaries than we were five years ago, but we’re all much more vulnerable because I don’t think a lot of the owners are that concerned with firing a guy and paying them off to go away.

Again, this is a business we chose and we all love it. But it’s not the most stable profession, that’s for sure”.

Kerr on his coaching future

Amid the discussion about coaching instability, Kerr was asked how long he plans to remain on the sidelines. While he expressed happiness with his current role, he acknowledged the uncertainty of his future. “I don’t know,” Kerr admitted. “I love what I do”.

“I’m in an amazing position with great support from my ownership and management and obviously have talented players, and the idea of continuing on with this group is very appealing because I love every single day,” he added.

“But who knows how long that lasts, and I don’t spend a whole lot of time worrying about it. I just enjoy it, and we’ll see where it all goes”.

Kerr about the harsh reality of coaching turnover

The four-time NBA champion coach expressed sympathy for Malone while noting the inevitable nature of coaching turnover in professional sports.

“I can’t really comment on anything other than wishing Mike well because he’s done an amazing job,” Kerr said. “Doesn’t seem right, but this is the business we’re in, and … we’re all going to suffer a similar fate at some point. That’s kind of the way it is”.