Denver Nuggets, coach Malone agree on extending contract

Michael Malone, who was about to head into the final year of his contract as the Denver Nuggets' coach, gained some job security Wednesday.

Before the Nuggets played their opener against the Los Angeles Clippers, they handed Malone a contract extension. The team didn't announce the terms of the deal, but multiple media outlets reported it is for two years, putting him under contract through 2020-21.

"As these conversations have been ongoing, I never let it affect my approach," Malone said Wednesday morning, according to the Denver Post. "Whether I have an extension or I don't have an extension, I'm not going to coach any differently. I only know one way.

"I'm fully committed, I'm excited to be here, and I want to be here and to have an ownership group and a front office that feels the same way is great. And as I mentioned, humbling is the best word I can come up with. Now it's OK, taking care of business."

Denver forward Paul Millsap told the Post of Malone, "I'm very happy for him. He definitely deserved it for what he's done over the course of the years. Now practices won't be as tough. But to see a smile on his face this morning, to see how amped he is about the season, it makes you want to get out there and win games for him. You want a guy like that to succeed."

The Nuggets barely missed the playoffs last season, finishing ninth in the Western Conference at 46-36. That was Malone's third year on the job after he guided Denver to 33 wins in 2015-16 and 40 in 2016-17.

Malone, 47, previously had a 39-67 record in 1 1/2 seasons as the Sacramento Kings head coach. He also had stints as an assistant for the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets and Golden State Warriors.