Denver, CO
Nuggets coach Michael Malone didn’t watch any of All-Star weekend, “and I’m glad I didn’t”
All-Star weekend wasn’t exactly must-see television for the defending champion team that was thinly represented in Indianapolis.
Not that it was appointment viewing for anyone else, either.
“I didn’t spend one minute watching anything from the All-Star weekend,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said, “and I’m glad I didn’t.”
The Nuggets (36-19) reconvened for their first practice Tuesday night to gear up for the last third of the season after a long weekend, but Nikola Jokic — their only rotation player named an All-Star — was given the evening off. On Sunday night, he contributed 13 points and nine assists in a 211-186 loss for the Western Conference.
He also was one of only two players with multiple steals in a game devoid of defense; the Eastern Conference All-Stars were the first team to break the 200-point barrier in NBA history, illuminating the ongoing lack effort and competitiveness in what is supposed to be the league’s marquee mid-season event. Malone wasn’t in a position to make educated comments about the issue based on this year’s game, but he’s plenty familiar with the topic after coaching the West in 2023.
“Probably more of the same,” said Malone, who said he enjoyed his break watching his daughter play volleyball in Kansas City. “I know the league is doing everything they can to try and make it more of a competitive game, and that wasn’t the case. So I don’t know what the league can do. You can’t force players to play hard. You can’t force players to care. And I think a lot of the players, in their defense … you also worry about injuries. Your No. 1 duty and obligation is to your team, so I’m not sure. Maybe they should do it like the Pro Bowl. Have an All-Star weekend after the season’s over, and everyone can go there and have fun. There’s nothing competitive about it.”
“I know the fans want to see a really competitive game, but dudes aren’t robots,” said Michael Porter Jr., who said he watched a little bit of the game. “They want to relax and have a little break going into the stretch. … Yeah, but it is kinda tough to watch sometimes.”
Even players such as Aaron Gordon, whose past slam-dunk contest appearances are the stuff of legend, sat out the Saturday slate of events, according to Peyton Watson, who was spending time with Gordon in Aspen. Gordon tweeted after a controversially judged series of dunks that “I probably could’ve got second in this year’s dunk contest,” but that wasn’t to be mistaken with him having eyes glued to the TV.
“We had bigger fish to fry,” Watson said. “We were out in Aspen having snowball fights.”
Injury update as Nuggets return
Nuggets guards Jamal Murray and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who were out with injuries going into the break, both went through practice Tuesday. Malone said the team’s goal is for everyone to be healthy and available Thursday when the Nuggets host the Washington Wizards in the first game out of the break.
“They look good, and hopefully they feel good enough tomorrow to where we can keep building and having them back in the lineup,” Malone said. “Because obviously we know we’re a much better team when they’re available.”
Murray has been dealing with bilateral tibia inflammation, which caused him to miss the second half of Denver’s loss in Milwaukee and the entirety of the next game against Sacramento. Caldwell-Pope has been dealing with right hamstring tightness dating back a couple of weeks.
“Quick turnaround tomorrow morning for practice, but hopefully they’ll be able to go tomorrow,” Malone said. “And then we can take it on a game-by-game basis.”
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Originally Published:
Metro Denver commuters can look forward to faster trips on the Regional Transportation District’s light rail after the agency lifted the last of 31 speed restrictions that have slowed trains for almost a year.
RTD lifted the final slow zone on a 400-foot southbound segment near the Southmoor Station on Tuesday morning, officials said in a news release.
Transportation officials found minor issues and “track imperfections” in May 2024 and added 10 mph speed restrictions to sections of the D, E, H and R lines in June and July until workers could finish repairs.
Over the next 11 months, nearly 100 employees removed and replaced more than two miles of track and finished grinding 50 miles of rail to remove surface defects that could cause cracks, according to RTD.
The delays caused frustration among customers and drops in ridership, with some people reporting more than double the amount of time to take their regular route to work.
Temporary speed restrictions will return as needed after rail inspections because of RTD’s “aging rail infrastructure,” the agency said.
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Originally Published:
DENVER- Denver International Airport (DEN) employees are questioning CEO Phil Washington over expensive business-class flights for executives. The trip to a conference in Madrid cost the airport over $165,000, with one United Airlines (UA) ticket priced at $19,194.21.
Workers expressed concerns about the ethical implications of such high spending while frontline staff face budget constraints. Washington defended the decision, calling it an investment in leadership development.
Denver Airport CEO’s $19,000 Flight
At a quarterly town hall meeting for Denver International Airport (DEN) employees, an anonymous worker challenged CEO Phil Washington on the decision to approve expensive business class tickets for a three-day conference in Madrid.
The employee highlighted a $19,194.21 ticket, noting it “creates a rift in sentiment between frontline and senior leadership.”
The trip, attended by Washington and eight executive staff members, cost approximately $165,000, averaging $18,000 per person for flights, conference fees, hotels, and meals on United Airlines (UA).
Washington defended the expenditure, emphasizing the conference’s value for professional development.
He attributed high ticket costs to late bookings, stating, “Some travel requests came in a little later,” causing prices to spike.
However, records from a CBS News investigation revealed most tickets were purchased months in advance, contradicting claims of last-minute bookings.
Travel consultant Robert Laney expressed disbelief at the costs, suggesting that waiting could have reduced fares to $8,000–$9,000 per ticket.
Policy Under Review
Amid the growing backlash, CEO Washington announced that Denver International Airport (DEN) is reassessing its travel policy.
“We are reviewing our policy. There are some revisions we could make to that policy,” he said, although no immediate changes have been finalized or disclosed.
An airport spokesperson confirmed that the current review will cover the entire travel procedure, from initial requests and booking to reimbursement processes.
The aim, according to Washington, is to ensure future decisions reflect fiscal responsibility without compromising professional development goals.
Despite the controversy, Washington maintained his position, stating, “I stand by the professional development opportunity as an investment in our people that will pay off in the long run.”
Bottom Line
The controversy has sparked broader discussions about transparency and equity at Denver International Airport (DEN).
Frontline workers, who often face tighter budgets, expressed frustration over the perceived extravagance of executive travel.
The issue underscores the need for clear, equitable travel policies to maintain trust between staff and leadership.
As the airport reviews its policies, stakeholders await changes to ensure responsible use of revenues derived from public-facing operations like concessions and rentals.
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