It didn’t take long for Kenyon Martin to fire back at former Nuggets coach George Karl, who rips Martin, Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith in his new memoir.
Martin always liked to talk during his playing days, so it’s no surprise to see him defend himself and former teammates with vigor.
Martin started his outburst by calling Karl an “awful and coward ass coach” in all caps and then trashed Karl for commenting that Martin and Anthony’s issues stemmed from growing up without a father.
The Nerve of an AWFUL AND COWARD ASS COACH. More to come
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
I didn't have a father going up. We all know that. What's George Karl excuse for being a terrible person
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
Karl has 1,175 career victories, but Martin chalked the success up to talented players rather than good coaching. In 27 years as a head coach, Karl had only one conference title and no NBA titles.
Everyone that's played for that awful person and coach can't stand the ground he walks on
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
Having a lot of wins doesn't make you a good coach. He was blessed with great talent
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
Karl’s teams in Denver lost in the first round of the playoffs every year except for 2009, when the Nuggets fell to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.
Since we were so bad as players. Tell him to forfeit those Denver wins
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
George Karl is selfish,unhappy,missable,,cowardly person. No wonder he's be fired every place he has coached
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
In his 15-year NBA career, Martin played for five different head coaches and called Karl “by far the worst.”
The book he is writing is full of lies and deceit. By far the worst coach that ever played for
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
He also placed Melo’s defensive struggles in Denver on Karl’s coaching rather than Anthony’s work ethic. In the memoir, Karl said Anthony “really lit my fuse with his low demand of himself on defense.”
Talking bout Melo didn't like defense. Hell he never coached defense. How does that work
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
George Karl is the reason KiKi Vandeweghe lost his GM job in Denver. Told the staff they can't serve 2 Kings. He no King. #CowardKarl
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
While Anthony said “no way” when asked by the New York Daily News to respond to Karl’s comments, Smith appeared to subtweet Karl earlier today, commenting: “Still trying to be relevant. Sad just sad.”
Still trying to be relevant. Sad just sad.
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) December 22, 2016
Karl was fired by the Kings in April after a 33-49 season.
