George Karl throws shade at Michael Malone amid recent MVP controversy

Matt Hanifan / NBA / May 22, 2025

Michael Malone George Karl Jokic Gilgeous-Alexander — From one Nuggets head coach to another, George Karl calls out Michael Malone amid his recent MVP take on ESPN. (David Gonzales-Imagn Images)

George Karl throws shade at Michael Malone amid recent MVP controversy

It did not take long for former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone to make national headlines in his first appearance with ESPN after Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.

After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s 31-point, nine-assist performance on Tuesday, Malone, tethered to Nikola Jokic up until the final weeks of the season before getting unexpectedly fired, remarked that Gilgeous-Alexander “showed why he’s the MVP.”

That obviously sparked controversy because of the two-man race that was Gilgeous-Alexander and Jokic, who became the third player in NBA History to average a triple-double in a single season. Another former Nuggets head coach, George Karl, took notice, throwing shade at Malone for his take involving Denver’s superstar big.

Jokic was the MVP again this season and it wasn’t that close.

But I guess I’m the only former Nuggets coach who knows that.
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) May 21, 2025

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins 2024-25 MVP award

Gilgeous-Alexander was eventually announced as the MVP on Wednesday after he led the NBA in scoring en route to a 68-win season with Oklahoma City. Furthermore, in fairness to Malone, Gilgeous-Alexander did play like an MVP in the second half of Tuesday’s 26-point win.

It’s unknown whether Malone was throwing shots of his own at his former organization or if he was trying to be objective with his analysis, now that he’s sitting in a different chair. Maybe it’s a little bit of both? We may never know.

Karl’s also wrong; this was one of the more exciting two-man MVP races in NBA History–sorry, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The gap was razor-thin, with compelling arguments for both sides. Let’s be honest here. This wasn’t a completely one-sided race.

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