Former NBA coach George Karl has made some controversial remarks about the current state of the Los Angeles Lakers, particularly targeting their star players LeBron James and Anthony Davis. As the Lakers search for a new head coach following the departure of Darvin Ham, Karl offered some pointed advice to the franchise, which ended up being more of a critique of the team’s top players rather than a recommendation for their next coach.
“I’ll give the Lakers coaching search committee free advice today – LeBron isn’t a superstar anymore and AD will never be one,” Karl wrote on X.
“Now be sure to use those Truths when evaluating candidates and u might select someone u keep for longer than two szns!”
I’ll give the Lakers coaching search committee free advice today – LeBron isn’t a superstar anymore and AD will never be one.
Now be sure to use those Truths when evaluating candidates and u might select someone u keep for longer than two szns!
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) May 16, 2024
To give context to Karl’s comments, it’s important to note that James, now 39 years old and in his 21st NBA season, posted impressive stats this season with an average of 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game.
Davis also had strong numbers, averaging 24.7 points and 12.6 rebounds. Despite their individual performances, the Lakers struggled as a team, ultimately losing to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
Who is George Karl?
Karl, who is 73 and hasn’t coached since 2016, is a respected figure in the NBA coaching community, despite never having won a championship.
He came close in 1996 with the Seattle SuperSonics but lost to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, who had a historic 72-10 regular season record. Over his career, Karl coached 1,999 games across six teams (Cavaliers, Warriors, SuperSonics, Bucks, Nuggets, and Kings) and was named Coach of the Year in 2013 while with the Denver Nuggets. His contributions to the sport earned him a place in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
As the Lakers consider potential candidates for their head coaching position, including names like JJ Redick and Tyronn Lue, Karl’s harsh assessment demonstrates the challenges the franchise faces.