Kings hire Karl as coach
SACRAMENTO: The Sacramento Kings, languishing near the bottom of the NBA, made it official on Tuesday that George Karl will become the team’s new head coach.
The struggling team’s general manager, Pete D’Alessandro, had said last week that Karl would be introduced after Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game.
“We’re fortunate to be taking a step towards returning this franchise to prominence with one of the best coaches in basketball on our sideline,” D’Alessandro said. “George knows how to win, as evidenced by a lifetime track record of success and ability to maintain consistency throughout his three decades in the game. We’re excited to welcome him to Sacramento.”
Karl becomes the 27th coach in franchise history and the 16th during the Sacramento-era. The team did not disclose the terms of his contract.
A two-time cancer survivor, Karl, 63, takes over the Kings with an impressive resume. He is the sixth-winningest coach in NBA history, having compiled a 1,131-756 record in 25 seasons. He has coached at Cleveland, Golden State, Seattle, Milwaukee and Denver, where he was named the 2012-13 coach of the year after guiding the club to a 57-25 record.
“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to coach again in the NBA, and I’m thankful it’s happening in Sacramento,” said Karl.
Karl replaced interim Tyrone Corbin, who took over in December for fired Mike Malone.
Karl last coached in the NBA in 2013 with Denver, the Nuggets going 57-25 to earn Karl the NBA Coach of the Year award. He went 423-257 with Denver but the Nuggets were ousted in the first round of the playoffs eight times in nine tries, reaching the 2009 Western Conference finals in his best play-off outing with the team.