1. George Matthew Karl was born on May 12,1951 and is an American former professional basketball coach and player.
17 Facts About George Karl
1. 2.
Three years later, Karl became one of the youngest National Basketball Association head coaches in history when he was named coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers at age 33.
3.
George Karl was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022.
4.
George Karl spent three years as the team's starting point guard, playing with George Gervin.
5.
George Karl was then named head coach of the Montana Golden Nuggets of the Continental Basketball Association.
6.
George Karl guided the team to the CBA Finals in 1981 and 1983, winning Coach of the Year both seasons.
7.
In 1983, George Karl returned to the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers as director of player acquisition.
8.
Head coach Tom Nissalke was fired after the season in May 1984, and at age 33, George Karl was promoted to head coach in late July.
9.
On January 23,1992, Karl was named head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, replacing K C Jones.
10.
George Karl took Seattle to the playoffs in all seven seasons of his tenure.
11.
On July 27,2005, the Nuggets announced that George Karl had prostate cancer, but was cleared to continue coaching after he had surgery.
12.
George Karl led the Nuggets to the Northwest division title that season, Denver's first in 18 years.
13.
George Karl was placed on leave of absence from the Nuggets for the remainder of the season while receiving treatment.
14.
On June 6,2013, George Karl was fired by Denver, just 29 days after he was named Coach of the Year.
15.
On February 12,2015, after several weeks of talks and speculation, George Karl agreed to a deal to become the head coach of the Sacramento Kings, after signing a four-year, $15 million contract.
16.
George Karl was only one game shy from coaching his 2,000th game in the NBA.
17.
George Karl is an avid supporter of St Jude Children's Research Hospital and serves as an ambassador for their Hoops for St Jude basketball initiative.