The Denver Nuggets were penciled in as the third seed in the western conference when play stopped. Now, George Karl says it’s time to call it all off.
The NBA has been suspended for over two months, and doubts over whether or not the season is going to be completed are rising. The NBA is expected to make a decision within the coming weeks, and there is growing optimism that the league will vote to salvage the season.
George Karl, though, is not on board. The longtime coach of six different teams, including the Nuggets, took to Twitter to argue that the NBA should forgo the rest of the season, and prioritize the following season instead.
It’s just my opinion and I don’t have all the facts. But, as a huge hoops fan, I think it’s time to call the NBA season. Honors the game better.
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) May 17, 2020
We stay on a more regular schedule and we can come back healthy and strong next season!
Karl is no stranger to adversity. He himself has overcome cancer three different times, and even coached during the playoffs in 2005 after being diagnosed. He remains the second-winningest coach in Nuggets history, sitting just nine wins behind Doug Moe‘s record of 432 wins.
Karl holds some influence throughout NBA circles. He has also twice been the man in charge of Real Madrid in Spain, so his basketball clout is known both internationally and domestically. Karl does have a point when he speaks of respect for the game.
No matter what format is used or how the NBA decides to pursue the completion of the season, an asterisk is undeniably going to be applied to whoever captures a trophy. A most valuable player award recipient will not be viewed in the same light as past and future winners, and playoff performances will be downplayed because of extended rests before the postseason.
The league is also cutting it very close when it comes to starting the next season on time. While television rights are unaffected if the league plays deep into the summer, the NBA would have to cram in several important offseason tasks. The NBA Summer League is in dire jeopardy, as further social distancing measures and playing both exhibition games and NBA games at the same time would be extremely difficult.
The league will also have to fit in a draft, free agency, and training camp. While expedited versions of this have been done in lockout-shortened seasons, the NBA was still able to rely on fans showing up for games and revenue pouring in from all angles. That isn’t going to happen this time, and there is no other template for the league to follow, as these circumstances are unprecedented.
Part of what is being discussed involves continuing to play on even in the event that a player tests positive for the virus, after at least six players tested positive. While fans are dying to see live sports again, Karl’s stance is interesting considering his previous battles with illness that have sidelined him both during and in between seasons.