George Karl’s time in Sacramento was an unmitigated disaster. The 64-year-old butted heads with Kings players – specifically, star DeMarcus Cousins – ultimately never gaining their respect, while he was constantly on the chopping block throughout the season. After leading Sacramento to a forgettable 33-49 record where little positives were to be found, general manager Vlade Divac fired Karl.
Karl, who’s been around as a head coach in the NBA since 1984, told Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee he felt like he never got the support like he should have.
“I’m old school enough to think that a coach has to feel powerful, has to feel supported, and I never felt that level of support.”
It’s hard to gain support when you’re constantly alienating your players. Sure, Kings players didn’t help him out but that goes both ways.
Karl admitted to causing a rift between him and Cousins, saying their relationship was doomed after he said no player on the Kings roster was untradable.
“I never felt I got into a good place with Cuz, and some of that was my stupidity when I said that no player is untradeable,” Karl said. “I still believe that. But I should have been smart enough not to say it, and I in no way, at any time, thought DeMarcus was going to get traded.”
The Sacramento coaching job was likely Karl’s last chance as a head coach in the NBA. The Kings are a complete mess as an organization, but Karl didn’t do himself any favors by being stubborn and doing a poor job. He’s not wrong saying the Kings didn’t support him, but he didn’t do a great job supporting them either.
[theScore]
