BREAKING: Michael Malone has been fired by the Nuggets — could Russell Westbrook be the next one out?

The Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone on Tuesday, ending the 53-year-old’s 10-year run with the franchise.

Malone went 471-327 in the regular season and 44-36 in the playoffs with the Nuggets, who won the 2023 championship against the Miami Heat.

Denver was 47-32 under Malone this season, but ownership still decided to fire the New York native. General manager Calvin Booth was fired as well.

The Nuggets defeated the Sacramento Kings, 124-116, on Wednesday in their first game in the post-Malone era. Russell Westbrook, who is in his first season with Denver, played only 16 minutes.

He finished with five points, four rebounds, four assists and three turnovers while shooting 2-of-11 from the floor and 0-of-4 from 3.

Denver Nuggets stars Aaron Gordon (32), Jamal Murray (27) and Russell Westbrook (4)

Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Malone was a big fan of Westbrook, but now that Malone is gone, Westbrook’s future with the Nuggets is “uncertain,” according to Tony Jones and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

“In Wednesday night’s 124-116 win over the Sacramento Kings, David Adelman benched Westbrook down the stretch of the fourth quarter, choosing instead to close with Jalen Pickett,” Jones and Amick wrote. “Westbrook has a player option worth $3.4 million to return to the Nuggets next season, but league sources say his future with the organization is uncertain.”

Westbrook, 36, has appeared in 73 games for Denver this season. The one-time MVP is averaging 13.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.5 blocks and 3.3 turnovers while shooting 44.8% from the field, 32.6% from beyond the arc and 64.5% from the free-throw line.