Michael Malone makes hilarious comment after Nuggets’ close shave: “Don’t get rated on our wins”

Nuggets HC Michael Malone has been attracting widespread attention for his recent antics during the Nuggets-Lakers post-game interview.

Michael Malone makes hilarious comment after Nuggets’ close shave: “Don’t get rated on our wins”

Michael Malone

The Denver Nuggets saw out a gritty win against their arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. Nuggets’ star man Jamal Murray dropped a game-winning 3-pointer on them in the dying seconds of the 4th quarter. However, the Lakers were without several of their star players. The Nuggets won by a 5-point margin without playing against the likes of LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Jaxon Hayes. Notably, Michael Malone had different views.

Nuggets HC Malone stole the headlines with his post-match interview after his side overcame the Lakers. Malone stated that ‘a win is a win.’ In addition, he crumpled the box score sheet and threw it in front of the media. This caught the attention of the NBA community, with fans finding the moment hilarious on social media.

YouTube video

This isn’t a beauty pageant. We don’t get rated on our wins, it’s a win.

Michael Malone said after the game

Murray and Nikola Jokic paced the Denver Nuggets, combining for 54 points in a close game against the injury-riddled Lakers. However, Malone expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance and remarked that they needed to enter the game with energy following another bad defensive first quarter.

FS Video

Despite the absence of James and Doncic, the LA Lakers looked relentless, led by Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht. The two scored 69 points together, but the Nuggets’ late-game brilliance, especially a key three from Murray, helped the Mile High City squad prevail.

Michael Malone wants his star players ‘to shoot more’ after Lakers win

Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic combined for only 32 shots against the Lakers, making slightly more than half of them. Surprisingly, Russell Westbrook had 16 shots off the bench. However, as per Michael Malone, the star tandem should be shooting more. Malone was visibly upset with his star duo’s shooting performance against the Lakers.

To be honest Joker shooting only 16 shots, Jamal shooting only 16 shots, I gotta get those guys more field goal attempts. I gotta get those two guys 20-25 shots a game, easy and that’s no disrespect to anybody else, but I mean we need those guys to carry our offensive load.

Michael Malone said
YouTube video

However, Malone won’t have to worry a lot about the duo’s shooting going forward into the season. The two have only been teammates for the Nuggets for a little over a decade, but they have already established themselves as franchise greats.

Jokic is aiming for his fourth MVP award, but he is additionally helping the Nuggets finish in the top two of the Western Conference. Murray has improved since the beginning of 2025, averaging 22.6 points per game while shooting an efficient 49.6% from the field and 42% from three. Both stars are looking to win their second NBA title together after claiming one in 2023.