George Karl has struggled mightily in his second battle with cancer. Coach Karl may miss the Nuggets' playoff run as a result
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George Karl won’t make an appearance on the Nuggets sideline for the remainder of the regular season. Worse, Karl’s girlfriend is now reporting that George will most likely miss the 1st round of the playoffs as well.
Speculation has circulated for a month that Karl’s cancer treatment would leave him unable to coach any regular season games. Now the Nuggets may have to do without Coach Karl for at least the first round of the playoffs, if not longer.
Obviously, Karl’s health is the first priority. George has said himself that he would return to the team as soon as humanly possible, but when undergoing chemotherapy for neck & throat cancer, even a superhuman competitor like Karl has to know his limits.
Said girlfriend Kim Van Deraa, “To count out all the playoffs, that’s up to his body.â€
Van Deraa, who is also the mother of Karl’s five-year-old daughter, wouldn’t speculate on a specific time frame for George’s return. “Who knows when his return will be? No one knows. He doesn’t even know. I’m sure he’s hoping that if we go on a playoff run, that he can this season.â€
Until then, assistant Adrian Dantley will continue to fill in as head coach. Karl has said that he would continue to assist his coaches and players in their strategic preparation for each game. Even that becomes a tall task after 36 radiation treatments. With no firm reports on Karl’s physical state, the team may be Dantley’s to run well into the playoffs.
George Karl will finish his chemotherapy schedule this Wednesday, April 7th. However, his recovery period could take months. Van Deraa reported that Karl continues to struggle to speak, and that he may need to be fed through a tube for another 3-6 months.
