
George Karl didn’t stick to just ripping the Sacramento Kings, Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin in an excerpt from his new book. The former Denver Nuggets head coach also sounded off on J.R. Smith.
The sharp-shooting guard has progressed tremendously throughout his career. There’s no mistaking he’s had a few antics during his career including his successful run with the Denver Nuggets. Smith was on a very talented squad in the ‘Mile High’ city, alongside Anthony, Martin, and Chauncey Billups. But apparently behind-the-scenes, according to Karl, Smith was a distraction to him and the team.
Karl said the following in his upcoming book, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Regarding Smith, Karl wrote that Smith’s father, Earl Sr., “urged his son to shoot the ball and keep shooting it from the very moment I put him in the game.’’
Karl wrote Smith carried “a huge sense of entitlement, a distracting posse, his eye always on the next contract and some really unbelievable shot selection.
“When we traded J.R. in 2011, I was disappointed that I hadn’t helped a clearly talented player advance his game more.’’
The ‘posse’ comment comes just a few short weeks after New York Knicks president Phil Jackson made a comment in a similar tone about Smith’s teammate on the Cavs, LeBron James. Jackson talked about LeBron’s business partners and said they were members of LeBron’s ‘posse.’ Maverick Carter, who is the agent for both LeBron James and J.R. Smith, didn’t take too kindly to Jackson’s remarks.
Smith has grown tremendously as of late. He reflected on his growth over the summer, and he’s been a standup member of the Cleveland Cavaliers during his run towards the NBA championship. Unfortunately, right now Smith is out due to a broken thumb. But he’s not shying away from Karl’s shocking comments.
J.R. tweeted the following earlier today.
Still trying to be relevant. Sad just sad.
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) December 22, 2016
This situation for George calling out his former players will not go away anytime soon. Christmas in the Karl household might be fascinating.