Shooting Guard Coby Karl, formerly with the Lakers, Warriors & Cavaliers, will join the Nuggets as his father George recovers from chemotherapy
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The 27 year old son of Denver coach George Karl has signed with the Nuggets as the team prepares for the NBA Playoffs.
Coby Karl was waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier this season, and played with the Golden State Warriors on a 10-day contract before dropping to the D-League’s Idaho Stampede. He also played with the LA Lakers in 2008.
Coby had been struggling to maintain consistent contact with his father George Karl. The senior Karl just finished a grueling 6-week chemotherapy regimen for neck & throat cancer, and Coby spent much of that time away from Denver with the Stampede.
Coby Karl knows all too well the battle with cancer. He witnessed his father navigate successful treatment for prostate cancer in 2005 before developing thyroid cancer himself less than a year later. Coby had cancerous lymph nodes removed in 2006.
Now George Karl’s return to the Nuggets’ sideline is doubtful for the playoffs as he struggles to regain strength and lost weight. Still, Denver fans may get a chance to see Coby & George team up this season.
“It’s been one of his goals, to coach me,” Coby Karl said. “If that’s what helps my father recover, that’s great.”
Whenever George Karl does return, he’ll look to utilize Coby’s above-average height at Shooting Guard (6’5â€) to create mismatches and improve rebounding. Coby Karl already averaged 4 rebounds per game in limited time with Golden State, and 6 per game as a starter with the Stampede.
Coby Karl joins fellow D-League call-up Brian Butch in Denver as the Nuggets look to improve upon last season’s run to the Western Conference Finals.
