Nuggets: Where Does Michael Malone Rank Among Highest-Paid Coaches?

(Photo : C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) DENVER, COLORADO - Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets reacts from the sideline against the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter during the NBA In-Season Tournament at Ball Arena on November 3, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.

Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone has reportedly agreed to a contract extension that will place the 52-year-old among the highest-paid coaches in the NBA.

Malone is well-deserving of the new deal, considering he was the architect of the Nuggets NBA title win last season. That success is expected to carry on for as long as his partnership with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and the rest of the team remains, ESPN reported, citing sources.

How much is Malone making right now?

Unfortunately, the actual numbers of Michael Malone's contract were not revealed. His basic salary is kept under wraps, although there are claims he is making between $2 million and $3 million a year.

Regardless of how much Malone makes right now, he will still make a lot. And reports placing him among the highest-paid coaches in the NBA right now hint that he will get a huge pay raise, which he deserves.

For reference, here are the highest-paid coaches in the NBA and their earnings per year via NBC San Diego.

Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs ($16 million)
Monty Williams, Detroit Pistons ($13.05 million)
Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors ($9.5 million)
Erik Spoelstra, Miami Heat ($8.5 million)
Rick Carlisle, Indiana Pacers ($7.24 million)

Williams is the only coach from the list who has not won an NBA title. However, he won NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2022.

The best run that Williams had was leading the Suns to the NBA Playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Phoenix lost to the Bucks in six games.

Regardless, Williams landed a huge contract for his coaching genius.

This does not imply that Malone may get a pretty lofty deal since he delivered a title to the Nuggets.

Regardless, he deserves to be somewhere in between these highest-paid coaches, per Bleacher Report. His stock will only rise if he can win more NBA championships.