Coach of the Year? George Karl says “no, thanks”.
(via Sports Grid)
As much as we love to complain about some of the quirky things George Karl does, fans have to admit that season after season GK has his Nuggets in the thick of things. Despite the constant state of flux the Nuggets have been in since the Carmelo trade, old George has somehow managed to put pieces together every year. This season is certainly no exception. He has adapted to make the most of what he has been given to work with.
There’s one accolade Karl prefers to steer clear of, however – NBA Coach of the Year. He appreciates receiving votes, he says, but has no desire to win it. Why? Because, according to GK, the award is a death knell. It turns out he’s right.
The blog Sports Grid looked into the matter. Columnist Dylan Murphy learned that 44% of coaches named NBA Coach of the Year were fired within three seasons of recieving the honor.
The historical list after the jump.
*note, this list was directly cut from Sports Grid. We rarely do this around here. We found it interesting, though*
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1962-1963 – Harry Gallatin, St. Louis Hawks: stepped down of his own accord.
1963-1964 – Alex Hannum, San Francisco Warriors: fired! (1966)
1964-1965 – Red Auerbach, Boston Celtics: the named the award the Red Auerbach Trophy.
1965-1966 – Dolph Schayes, Philadelphia 76ers: fired! (1966)
1966-1967 – Johnny Kerr, Chicago Bulls: sort of forced out after poor 1967-1968 season.
1967-1968 – Richie Guerin, St. Louis Hawks: stepped down of his own accord.
1968-1969 – Gene Shue, Baltimore Bullets: stepped down of his own accord.
1969-1970 – Red Holzman, New York Knicks: stepped down of his own accord.
1970-1971 – Dick Motta, Chicago Bulls: stepped down of his own accord.
1971-1972 – Bill Sharman, Los Angeles Lakers: stepped down of his own accord.
1972-1973 – Tom Heinsohn, Boston Celtics: fired! (1978)
1973-1974 – Ray Scott , Detroit Pistons: fired! (1976)
1974-1975 – Phil Johnson, Kansas City-Omaha Kings: fired! (1977)
1975-1976 – Bill Fitch, Cleveland Cavaliers: fired! (1979)
1976-1977 – Tom Nissalke, Houston Rockets: stepped down of his own accord.
1977-1978 – Hubie Brown, Atlanta Hawks: fired! (1981)
1978-1979 – Cotton Fitzsimmons, Kansas City Kings: stepped down of his own accord.
1979-1980 – Bill Fitch, Boston Celtics: fired! (1983)
1980-1981 – Jack McKinney, Indiana Pacers: fired! (1984)
1981-1982 – Gene Shue, Washington Bullets: fired! (1986)
1982-1983 – Don Nelson, Milwaukee Bucks: stepped down of his own accord.
1983-1984 – Frank Layden, Utah Jazz: stepped down of his own accord.
1984-1985 – Don Nelson, Milwaukee Bucks: stepped down of his own accord.
1985-1986 – Mike Fratello, Atlanta Hawks: mutually agreed to part ways (1990)
1986-1987 – Mike Schuler, Portland Trail Blazers: fired! (1989)
1987-1988 – Doug Moe, Denver Nuggets: fired! (1990)
1988-1989 – Cotton Fitzsimmons, Phoenix Suns: retired/fired self (1997)
1989-1990 – Pat Riley, Los Angeles Lakers: stepped down of his own accord.
1990-1991 – Don Chaney, Houston Rockets: fired! (1992)
1991-1992 – Don Nelson, Golden State Warriors: fired! (1995)
1992-1993 – Pat Riley, New York Knicks: traded to Miami Heat.
1993-1994 – Lenny Wilkens, Atlanta Hawks: resigned/fired (2000)
1994-1995 – Del Harris, Los Angeles Lakers: fired! (1999)
1995-1996 – Phil Jackson, Chicago Bulls: stepped down of his own accord.
1996-1997 – Pat Riley, Miami Heat: stepped down of his own accord.
1997-1998 – Larry Bird, Indiana Pacers: stepped down of his own accord.
1998-1999 – Mike Dunleavy, Portland Trail Blazers: fired! (2001)
1999-2000 – Doc Rivers, Orlando Magic: fired! (2003)
2000-2001 – Larry Brown, Philadelphia 76ers: stepped down of his own accord.
2001-2002 – Rick Carlisle, Detroit Pistons: fired! (2003)
2002-2003 – Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs: still coaching.
2003-2004 – Hubie Brown, Memphis Grizzlies: stepped down of his own accord.
2004-2005 – Mike D’Antoni, Phoenix Suns: stepped down of his own accord.
2005-2006 – Avery Johnson, Dallas Mavericks: fired! (2008)
2006-2007 – Sam Mitchell, Toronto Raptors: fired! (2008)
2007-2008 – Byron Scott, New Orleans Hornets: fired! (2009)
2008-2009 – Mike Brown, Cleveland Cavaliers: fired! (2010)
2009-2010 – Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder: still coaching.
2010-2011 – Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls: still coaching.
2011-2012 – Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs: still coaching.
