NBA coach Michael Malone, who prioritized his family over his team's championship run, is praised in this week's grading report.

Michael Malone understands the game of basketball, the importance of leadership, and has a broad perspective on society and family. These are all topics that the Grading The Week team enjoys discussing, especially when it comes to coaches who aren't afraid to speak their minds and offer opinions outside of the sports world. Malone, the head coach of the Denver Nuggets since 2015, proudly falls into this category. He has never shied away from sharing his views, even if they differ from those of his audience. That's what makes this country great - the freedom to express our thoughts and opinions.

However, there is one thing that everyone can agree on - the importance of being there for your children's most important moments. And that's exactly what Malone did on Friday night. Instead of traveling with the Nuggets to New Orleans for their game against the Pelicans, he stayed back to support his daughter Bridget and her high school volleyball team in the state tournament. That's what being a parent is all about.

Team GTW wants to give Malone a round of applause for prioritizing his family over a basketball game, and we also commend the Nuggets organization for allowing him to do so. It's not every day that a coach chooses to miss a game, especially one that could potentially make him the franchise's all-time wins leader. But Malone understands that some things are more important than basketball - like being there for your child's big moment.

And even though the Nuggets ended up losing the game without their star player, Nikola Jokic, Malone's presence at his daughter's tournament was a win in itself. Meanwhile, Bridget's team put up a strong fight in the state tournament, ultimately falling short in the semi-finals. But for Malone, being there to support his daughter was worth more than any basketball game.

It's not easy being a coach, especially in a dream job like Malone's. It often means missing out on important family events. But Malone knows the value of being present for those moments, and we can all learn from his example.

Speaking of basketball, let's briefly touch on the Nuggets' City Edition uniforms - we're still not fans. But moving on to more positive news, we have to give kudos to Val Nichushkin for his return to the Colorado Avalanche after a six-month suspension. The mercurial forward has acknowledged the progress he's made with his mental health and hopes to never have a similar incident again. We couldn't agree more.

Switching gears to college volleyball, we want to recognize the MSU Denver Roadrunners, who have been on a roll lately. They have won 17 of their last 18 games, and as of Saturday afternoon, they were ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II South Central regional rankings. Their impressive record is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the players and coaching staff. We wish them luck as they head into the RMAC tournament and NCAA regionals.

As we wrap up this week's edition, don't forget to sign up for the Nuggets Insider for all the latest news and analysis on the Denver Nuggets. There's always something exciting happening in the world of basketball, and we don't want you to miss a thing.

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