Michael Malone had some things to get off his chest. And when Michael Malone is fired up, you know he’s going to let it fly. After the Denver Nuggets’ 129-119 loss to the Chicago Bulls, he wasn’t just upset about the result—he was downright fed up. Not with his players. Not even with the fact that Nikola Jokić was still out, leaving Denver shorthanded. No, his biggest frustration? The officiating. Specifically, the way the Bulls kept getting foul calls by throwing their bodies into defenders. It didn’t sit right with Malone, and he wasn’t about to stay quiet about it.

If there was one thing he wanted to make crystal clear in his postgame comments, it was this: he’s sick of watching his guys do everything right on defense—only to get penalized anyway. So when a reporter asked about offensive players initiating contact just to get to the free-throw line, Malone didn’t hold back. “It’s a great question,“ he said. “If an offensive player just puts his head down, jumps into you over and over and over again, I don’t know how you’re supposed to guard that.” And honestly? He’s got a point.

Defenders like Peyton Watson are playing by the book—taking the hit square in the chest, keeping their hands up, and staying disciplined. And still, whistle. Every. Single. Time. That’s what’s driving Malone crazy. It’s not just about this one game; he wants some clarity from the league. If defenders are doing everything right and still getting called, what are they supposed to do?

This isn’t a new problem. We’ve seen it for years. NBA stars have mastered the art of drawing fouls—James Harden, Trae Young, Luka Dončić. It’s practically a skill at this point. But for the teams stuck trying to defend it? It’s a nightmare. If you play physically, you’re called for a foul. If you back off, you’re giving up easy points. No way to win. And that’s exactly what has Malone so frustrated.

Nuggets miss Jokic in costly loss to Bulls

Of course, officiating wasn’t the only problem for Denver in this one. Even if the refs had swallowed their whistles, the Nuggets still had their hands full with a Bulls team that came out swinging.

Coby White was on fire, torching Denver for 37 points. Josh Giddey? He was in complete control, dropping 26 points and dishing out nine assists. The Nuggets kept it close through three quarters, but when the fourth rolled around, Chicago took over. A 17-4 run blew the game wide open, and even though Denver made a late push, a missed three from Russell Westbrook in the final minutes sealed their fate.

Jamal Murray did everything he could, pouring in 28 points to keep them in it. Peyton Watson had a career night, dropping 24. But without Jokic running the show, the offense just didn’t have the same flow. Aaron Gordon was out too, making it an even tougher climb. And in the end, Denver just didn’t have enough firepower to match the Bulls’ energy when it mattered most.

Now, let’s be real—Malone’s postgame frustration wasn’t just about venting after a loss. This is part of a much bigger conversation happening around the league. Coaches and players have been calling out these foul-baiting tactics for years, and Malone’s latest comments are only adding more fuel to the fire.

Will the NBA do something about it? That remains to be seen.

For now, the Nuggets have bigger problems. They need to figure out how to stay afloat while Jokic recovers. Their next challenge isn’t just about finding ways to win without their MVP—it’s about navigating a league where defending without fouling feels harder than ever.