Nuggets president confirms return of coach Malone for 2018-19 season

Mike Malone is still the man in the mountains.

Denver Nuggets president Tim Connelly confirmed that Malone will return to coach the team in 2018-19, according to The Denver Post's Gina Mizell.

When Malone joined the organization in June 2015, it was reported by Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski that the fourth year of his contract was a team option.

Given the progress the team has made under his watch, a divorce this summer seemed unlikely, despite the season ending on a down note. The Nuggets narrowly missed out on a trip to the playoffs after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the last day of the season.

Still, at 46-36, the Nuggets saw their record improve for the third straight season since Malone took over behind the bench, and the campaign marked the Nuggets' first winning record since 2012-13. With the coach back for Year 4, the team will continue its quest for upward mobility.