It was Thanksgiving weekend, and while most NBA executives were carving turkey, Josh Kroenke was carving up doubts. The weight of a franchise decision sat beside his dinner plate—fire a championship coach mid-season or let a slow burn continue to fester. Twice, he stepped back. But now, as the smoke begins to clear in Denver, the questions about what—and who—pushed him over the edge have only intensified.

Josh Kroenke had previously considered firing former head coach Michael Malone, and former GM Calvin Boothe on two occasions. One was during Thanksgiving in November, and the other was during the All-Star break. At both times, he hesitated due to his faith in the squad and their ability to achieve something special. Eventually, something shifted — he made peace with the decision, even if it haunted him. “To be frank, neither of them deserved it. And I apologize for that… I needed to be better at different points in time,” said the American billionaire.

But Kroenke made one thing clear—no external pressure sealed the deal that dealt the final blow to the front office changes. It was all the doing of the ownership needing a change for a better future. And regardless of his lackluster decision-making this summer, Russell Westbrook isn’t the cause of it either. In fact, Kroenke rates him highly- and called him the ‘spice’ that was the final touch needed in the Nuggets dish.

“Russ has been nothing but a positive for this group. Russ was a very spicy ingredient for us to add. I thought we needed some spice this year.” His flashy and no-nonsense plays add a different dynamic to the group. Beastbrook’s experience also comes in handy. So the stance is clear- Russ isn’t going anywhere.

But in a below-par season, you can imagine the spotlight surrounding player exits. Westbrook is just one of them. And as much as there has been, Josh said that there’s one more player whose situation he needed to clarify- and that’s Michael Porter Jr.

Josh Kroenke clears stance over Michael Porter Jr. after Russell Westbrook

In Formula 1, “silly season” refers to the period of intense speculation and rumors surrounding driver contracts and team changes, often leading up to the next season. But due to its diverse meaning, that term can be perfectly used in NBA terms as well. The silly season will begin as soon as the teams’ fates are decided during playoffs. So, as for the Denver Nuggets, Josh Kroenke has gotten ahead of the curve and clarified MPJ’s future- he isn’t going anywhere.

He’s considered to be important at the Mile-High City. Their core, with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray at the forefront, is slowly beginning to form. But that silliness surrounding Michael’s future has gotten Kroenke in stitches. “If it wasn’t such a serious accusation, I would probably laugh a little harder… [The rumors are] completely false,” said Kroenke.

MPJ is their third best-paid player this year, after signing a 5-year, $179,299,750 contract in 2022 that sees him earning $35,859,950 in the current year. At age 26, he’s soon to enter his prime. That investment is huge for a player, no doubt. But regardless of the $179 million price tag over MPJ’s head, Kroenke hopes that it will prove to be a steal in the coming years.

Few owners step to the mic with an apology. Fewer still try to untangle a firing from a frenzy of rumors. But Kroenke’s public clarity did just that—clearing Westbrook, reaffirming Porter Jr., and owning the call on Malone and Booth. But we know now for sure- Russell Westbrook wasn’t the cause of Michael Malone’s firing. He isn’t going anywhere, and neither is Michael Porter Jr. Are these decisions the right ones for their future?