What you should know about new Nuggets interim coach David Adelman
Apr 8, 2025, 2:14 PM
The Denver Nuggets bench has a new leader after the shocking Tuesday firing of Michael Malone and that man is David Adelman.
Adelman, 43, has been on the Nuggets staff since 2017 and had been the lead assistant for a few years after Chris Finch, Wes Unseld Jr. and Jordi Fernandez have gotten promotions elsewhere.
Born to be a coach, Adelman is the son of Hall of Famer Rick Adelman, who led the Blazers from 1989-1994 then was the head coach of Golden State, Sacramento, Houston and Minnesota. The younger Adelman got his first NBA gig working for his father and the Timberwolves.
Adelman is a former Trail Blazers ball boy who would listen to his father’s halftime speeches and grew up in Oregon, his first win came against Portland in 2023.
“I really think he’s the guy who’s going to be the next head coach because he has that head for a head coach,” Nikola Jokic said that night. “He is thinking in front, he knows answers, and he reads and reacts.”
Adelman filled in for the Nuggets in 2023 when Malone was out sick. He’s also had stints leading the Nuggets when Malone had family matters to attend to. And of course, Adelman has stepped up when Malone has been tossed.
When not actually leading the Nuggets in totality, Adelman is focused on the Nikola Jokic-led offense, which has been one of the best while the coach has been on Malone’s bench. This led Adelman to get interest from the Toronto Raptors last summer, and who ended up hiring former Serbian national team assistant Darko Rajakovic and Hornets a few weeks ago, they opted for Boston assistant Charles Lee. Adelman was also interviewed by the Cavaliers this past summer before they hired Kenny Atkinson.
Adelman has been on NBA staffs since the 2011-12 season with stops in Minnesota and Orlando.
Adelman gets three games before the postseason starts—maybe not ideal for his trial run but nonetheless a chance to prove he’s worthy of the full time job.
