Denver Nuggets fire George Karl after he wins coach of year

In another bizarre twist for the Denver Nuggets, they have reportedly fired George Karl after the NBA’s coach of the year had asked the team about extending his contract past next season.

This gives the Nuggets a second vacancy after General Manager Masai Ujiri, the NBA’s executive of the year, recently departed for Toronto.

Nuggets President Josh Kroenke told the Denver Post that because of the uncertainty with Karl’s contract situation and Karl’s possible interest in the Clippers’ coaching opening, Kroenke wanted to start anew with another coach. Karl had one year left on his contract.

Karl, 62, had guided the Nuggets to the playoffs in each of his nine seasons with the team, reaching the Western Conference finals in 2009. Denver compiled the best home record in the NBA while winning a franchise-record 57 games last season but was upset in the first round of the playoffs by Golden State.

Karl, who has a 1,131-756 record in his 25 seasons as an NBA coach, took the Seattle SuperSonics in 1996 to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.

Karl figures to draw interest from the Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and Memphis Grizzlies, should the Grizzlies part ways with Coach Lionel Hollins.

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