A new NBA rivalry may be building between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets.
It all started last season when the Nuggets swept the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
Following that, things only escalated as Nuggets head coach Michael Malone made comments about the Lakers, and several people involved in that team, including LeBron James, shot back.
Malone spoke to SiriusXM NBA Radio about the trash-talking he did and the problems a few people have with it.
“I don’t get and I really don’t spend any time worrying about it,” Malone said.
He claimed that he is going to focus on being himself and not change and also encouraging his team and riding with them through thick and thin.
To Malone, that’s all that really matters.
“I don’t get it and I really don’t spend any time worrying about”.
Nuggets head coach, Michael Malone, shares his thoughts on people having an issue with his smack talk.
Hear more from Nuggets camp: https://t.co/XWDtRPHnwv pic.twitter.com/jK2oGaOXpa
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 10, 2023
Trash-talking isn’t anything new for the NBA.
However, most of the time it is done by players within the league.
For some, it was a bit surprising to see Malone publicly make statements lambasting the Lakers.
It was even considered to be in bad taste by certain people.
But Malone doesn’t agree and he clearly has no intention of changing who he is or stopping.
To him, it is all part of supporting his team and being a pivotal part of it.
Of course, Malone has every reason to support and believe in his squad.
After years of trying hard but coming up short, the Nuggets were finally able to reach the NBA Finals and then win their first championship.
Behind the power of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and others, they are poised to be a powerful team again in the new season.
So Malone’s belief in the team – and his occasional smack-talking – will continue.
NEXT: The Nuggets Reportedly Have A Long-Term Contract Plan For Jamal Murray