The Sacramento Kings will finish the 2015-16 season with their best record in over a decade yet it will be the end of the line for their head coach, George Karl.
After a year full of drama, confusion and issues, the end of Karl’s short tenure with the Kings is near and is expected to happen very soon.
Following from Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
The issues between Karl and the players nearly led to the coach’s firing in February, and this time, financial reasons or a chat with general manager Vlade Divac won’t save his job after Wednesday’s game. Multiple league sources have indicated Karl will be fired Thursday. The sources would not go on the record because they are unauthorized to speak on the matter.
And Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports.
After the team returns from its final road trip of the season, the Sacramento Kings are planning to announce the dismissal of coach George Karl on Thursday, league sources told The Vertical.
The Kings will allow Karl to travel back with the team late Wednesday night and will make official what’s been suspected for months: Once again, the Kings are in the market for a new coach.Karl is aware of the timing of the Thursday dismissal, sources said.
Unlike the firing of coach Michael Malone in December 2015 – a unilateral, solo choice by owner Vivek Ranadive – the dismissal of Karl is a broader decision of ownership and top basketball executive Vlade Divac.
Two members of Karl’s coaching staff, Corliss Williamson and Nancy Lieberman, could stay to be a part of the next head coach’s staff, league sources said.
After the season, Karl is owed over $5 million dollars on the remaining balance of his contract. We’ll be sure to update you as the story progresses.
UPDATE:
George Karl has officially been removed as head coach of the Kings.
The Sacramento Kings announced today that George Karl will not be retained as head coach for the 2016-17 season, according to Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Vlade Divac.
“After evaluating the team’s performance this season, I determined it was necessary to move forward with a new voice from the head coaching position,” said Divac. “I have a great deal of respect and admiration for George and his accomplishments throughout his nearly 30 years in the NBA. On behalf of everyone in the Kings organization, I thank him for the contributions made during his time in Sacramento and wish him good fortune in the future.”
