mollyfamwatLast year, NBA coach George Karl expressed his disappointment about Carmelo Anthony’s defense, saying that the Nuggets were better off with Anthony on the bench. But in a recent interview, Karl clarified his comments, and he also explained why the Nuggets never won a championship.
George Karl, head coach of the Denver Nuggets, released a video to clarify his comments about Carmelo Anthony’s defense and why the Nuggets didn’t win a championship in the team’s last two years.
With the NBA playoffs officially underway, the Denver Nuggets have been utterly boring to watch. The Carmelo Anthony -led team has been routed in each round and, despite losing the game’s MVP, has yet to win a single game. While most analysts are calling the Nuggets’ season a failure, Nuggets Head Coach George Karl has a different take.
George Karl continues to make news five years after his previous stint in the league. The recipient of the 2013 Coach of the Year award isn’t afraid to express his thoughts on any basketball topic.
On social media, he’s gotten into fights with DeMarcus Cousins, but Boogie isn’t even his greatest foe. Karl and Carmelo Anthony have never had a good connection. Years after they parted ways in the NBA, their rivalry is still alive and well.
Karl recently chastised Melo for his desire to win a championship with the Denver Nuggets, claiming that the team would have won if the future Hall of Famer had played defense during the playoffs.
Moreover, the 70-year-old joined CBS Sports Radio’s “Tiki & Tierney” to discuss his relationship with Anthony and what could have happened with those Nuggets if everybody was on the same page.
Karl said that when he criticizes Melo on Twitter, things don’t become very hot until he strikes a nerve with supporters (3:06).
“Ninety percent of what I post on Twitter is never contentious. The only time you bring up an emotion, it becomes contentious. For me, Melo was a fantastic player. I can’t dispute that he was the one who turned the franchise around in Denver — he did it more than anybody else. He’s a formidable opponent. However, he is an individualist who prefers to score rather than play defense. My critique was just intended to poke the bear in the ribs about an incident that occurred eight years ago, and to have some fun with it. Unfortunately, Twitter gets enraged and wants to start a fight.”
Karl (3:59) responded to his previous remarks on Melo’s lack of defense by saying:
“Don’t get me wrong: those sleepless nights were about the coaches trying to find out how to inspire Melo, how to convince Melo that he’s talented enough to win titles. And we failed in a number of ways. Melo was the same guy here in Denver, same player in New York, and same player when he moved about in Houston in a lot of ways. Melo has been outstanding over the last two or three years. It’s my opinion against what the rest of the world believes… Maybe I’m bad for stirring the pot, but I’m telling you how I felt in the same way.”
He also spoke about the Nuggets’ prospects of winning the championship, claiming they were on the right track until everything went apart (8:28).
“I believe we were good enough to be a contender a few of those years. Our greatest year to win was the year I became ill. Yes, I believe that if we had been a bit more united the year we lost to the Lakers after making the Chauncey deal, we would have gone on to win the NBA Championship.”
Last but not least, Karl discussed Melo’s self-esteem and how he compares to LeBron James. Anthony had always aspired to be on the same level as James, according to his coach, but he couldn’t quite get there (11:29).
“The fact is, I believe Melo aspired to be on the same level as LeBron and enjoyed competing against him. Melo became enraged… I believe Melo finally realized he wasn’t on the same level as LeBron.”
For Karl, this was an eye-opening interview. Melo’s connection with him was tumultuous, prompting the player to seek a move from the Nuggets in the early 2000s. Things haven’t changed between them, and the coach never misses an opportunity to criticize the veteran forward.
With the Los Angeles Lakers, Melo is in a strong position to win his first NBA title. Things seem to be looking up for Anthony and the purple and gold in what looks to be an entertaining season.
Related Tags
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- george karl
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