George Karl, a legendary NBA coach and former coach of Real Madrid, warns the future coach of the Los Angeles franchise.
After Darvin Ham’s departure, the Lakers are searching for a new coach. Veteran coach George Karl has offered some advice for the franchise to consider during the hiring process. However, instead of recommending candidates like JJ Redick, Tyronn Lue, or anyone else, Karl delivered a harsh critique of the team’s star players.
Today I’ll give some free advice to the Lakers’ coaching search committee: LeBron is no longer a superstar, and AD never will be. Now, make sure to use these truths when evaluating candidates, and you might choose someone who keeps the job for more than two years,” wrote the former NBA coach, who also had a stint in Spain with Real Madrid in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
To add context to the statement, LeBron, at 39 years old and in his twenty-first NBA season, has averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. Davis has averaged 24.7 points and 12.6 rebounds. Despite their good performances, the Lakers had to compete in the play-in and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Nuggets.
Karl, who is 73 years old and hasn’t coached since 2016, was once one of the most respected coaches in the NBA despite never winning a championship. He came close in 1996 when he led the Sonics, but they lost 4-1 in the finals to Michael Jordan’s Bulls, who went 72-10 in that regular season. Karl coached 1,999 games in the league across six teams (Cavaliers, Warriors, Sonics, Bucks, Nuggets, and Kings) and was named Coach of the Year in 2013 with Denver. His career earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame.
