Michael Malone denied that the Nuggets aren't going to the White House for an advantage in playoff seeding

The Denver Nuggets won’t be going to the White House to celebrate their 2023 NBA title, but coach Michael Malone says it’s not because they’re chasing the top seed in the Western Conference.

After a report from NBA on TNT alluded that being the reason Denver won’t travel to Washington D.C. for the annual visit with the President, Malone refuted the claim.

Per DNVR Sports’ Harrison Ward, the Nuggets coach shared that the team’s whole goal isn’t making it to the top of the playoff bracket. It sounds like Denver’s main goal will be a title, and the seeding won’t be the end-all, be-all.

Michael Malone: “Contrary to recent reports, our whole goal is not being the No. 1 seed. It’s not why we cancelled the trip to the White House. I don’t know where these things come from. If we get the 1-seed, great.”

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) March 11, 2024

While it’s perfectly common for a sports team to turn down a visit to the White House, Malone has shut down the idea it’s for playoff seeding reasons.

If the Nuggets win another title in the summer, perhaps they’ll make a trip to the White House then. Until a possible repeat, it’ll be all business for the Nuggets.