What’s Best for the Sonics Is to Bring Back Karl

Despite speculation to the contrary, George Karl didn’t get fired for Seattle’s playoff collapse against the Lakers.

Instead, Karl is returning to coach the club next season, the Sonics announced Wednesday.

“It was a difficult end of the season and a difficult range of emotions,” General Manager Wally Walker said. “What’s past is past. Now, we have to look at what’s best for the team in the future.”

Seattle media widely speculated that Karl, 44, was as good as gone after the Lakers handed the Sonics their third consecutive playoff loss May 4.

But the Sonics decided to look at Karl’s regular-season record (202-86, .701, for 3 1/2 seasons) and not at his playoff record (17-20).

“We’re in a situation where I still firmly believe that our goal has got to be to compete for a championship,” Walker said. “I just reached the decision that George is going to be our coach because he meets the criteria of competing for a championship.”

Karl wasn’t available for comment, but he had announced his return to the team Tuesday night. He told KJR-AM, which is owned by the same company that owns the Sonics, that he was returning for at least the final year of his contract.