Malone’s Mic Moment: MVP Call or Just a Whoopsie?
Michael Malone, the bloke who only just got the coaching boot from the Denver Nuggets, has thrown NBA Twitter into a spin with what might be the biggest “accidental” sledge of the playoffs. While analysing Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals for ESPN, Malone called OKC superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander “the MVP.”
The twist? He used to shout from the rooftops that Jokic should win it “10 times out of 10,” and now he’s backing the bloke who just knocked Jokic’s Nuggets out of the postseason.
“(Shai) showed why he’s the MVP,” Malone casually declared, with all the subtlety of a kangaroo on a trampoline.
Quick Recap: What the Heck Happened?
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Game | OKC Thunder 114 def. Minnesota Timberwolves 88 (Game 1, West Finals) |
| Controversial Quote | “(Shai) showed why he’s the MVP”, Michael Malone |
| Context | Malone was fired in April 2025, before Denver’s playoff run |
| MVP Race | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs Nikola Jokic; Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the league’s MVP. |
| Previous Stance | Malone: “If you don’t pick Jokic, you’re bullsh*tting” (March 2024) |
| Fan Reaction | Some call it shade, others call it nerves behind a mic |
| Expert Take | Aussie journo Sam Vecenie: “Think people are taking this as a shot at Jokic when I think the much more likely explanation is Malone doesn’t have experience doing stand-ups for a TV network post-game and just said kind of a filler statement while speaking” |
Aussie Slam Dunk: Was It a Stitch-Up?
Let’s be real. Malone either had a cheeky crack at his ex-franchise OR he panicked on live telly and spouted the first name that popped into his head. Happens to the best of us… especially after being sacked harder than a Woolies bag packer caught slipping tins of Milo.
NBA journo Kevin O’Connor reckoned there was “no other way to hear this but as a shot at Jokic”, while Aussie hoops scribe Sam Vecenie reckons it was just a rookie gaffe:
“Think people are taking this as a shot at Jokic when I think the much more likely explanation is Malone doesn’t have experience doing stand-ups for a TV network post-game and just said kind of a filler statement while speaking.”
Game 1 Quick Stats: Thunder Strike First
| Top Performer | Stat Line |
|---|---|
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) | 31 points (20 in second half), 10/27 FG |
| Julius Randle (MIN) | 28 points, 5/6 from three (but faded second half) |
| Anthony Edwards (MIN) | 18 points, 5/13 FG: “I definitely got to shoot more. I took 13 (expletive) shots…” he said |
| Chet Holmgren (OKC) | Monster spin dunk + big presence in the paint |
| Kenrich Williams (OKC) | 5 straight points to turn the tide |
OKC went on a 32-18 third-quarter blitz, turning a halftime deficit into a statement win.
Post-Match Poetic Wisdom
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said:
“For us to play as poorly as we did offensively in the first half and be down four was a major victory for us at halftime.”
Meanwhile, SGA, calm as a koala in a gum tree, said:
“I didn’t change my mindset. I just tried to stay aggressive and trust my work.”
As for Anthony Edwards?
“Play without the ball…”
Translation: The Thunder packed the lane like a late-night servo during Easter road trips.
Final Siren: Filler, Fire or Fired-Up?
Whether Malone meant it or not, his little “oopsie” lit up playoff chat and spiced up what’s shaping to be a cracking Western Conference Finals.
In the end, SGA’s performance did most of the talking, and Jokic, well, he’s probably chilling in Serbia with a horse, watching the drama unfold.
Next Game: Thunder vs Timberwolves, Game 2, and this time, the real MVP just might show up again… or on live TV by accident.
Sources:
- The Athletic, “Ex-Nuggets coach Michael Malone says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘showed why he’s the MVP'”
- Denver7, “Michael Malone changes his tune, says Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ‘showed why he’s the MVP'”
- Nine, “Fired NBA coach makes surprise remark on biggest stage”
- NBA.com, “Nightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from May 20”
Photo: Steve Morgan, cropped, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, home of the Thunder and venue for Game 1 of the 2025 Western Conference finals.
