In what can certainly be labeled as a little bit of a shock, the Denver Nuggets have announced their decision to part ways with head coach George Karl.
The news was first reported by Yahoo! Sports Adrain Wojnarowski:
Denver has parted ways with coach George Karl, league source tells Yahoo! Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 6, 2013
Karl had one more year remaining on his contract, but the Nuggets have decided not to bring him back for the 2013-14 season.
Karl will not be brought back for the final year of his contract, source tells Y! Sports. He was informed this morning.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 6, 2013
Ironically enough, Karl was named the 2013 NBA Head Coach of the Year this past season and that’s something you don’t normally see in a coach that is not returning to sidelines (barring a retirement of course). Karl led the Nuggets to a franchise-record 57 wins this season, but the team has decided to pursue a different route apparently.
Even before the news emerged on Thursday morning, the rumors had been circuiting that the Nuggets and Karl could part. The Los Angeles Clippers are the hot name linked to Karl already, so it will be interesting to see what they decide to do now, considering Karl is officially out in Denver.
More details are sure to emerge, but the NBA’s Coach of the Year is now looking for a new job following the Nuggets’ decision on Thursday morning. Karl should have no trouble finding a new home and he will likely be amongst the hottest names on the coaching carousel moving forward.
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS