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The doctor charged with overseeing George Karl’s treatment for neck & throat cancer is optimistic about the NBA coach’s recovery.  In fact, Karl may yet return for his Denver Nuggets’ playoff run.
Dr. Jacques Sarri reported to AOL Fanhouse that George would most definitely miss the Nuggets’ first playoff series citing necessary rest after two rounds of chemotherapy.
However, Dr. Sarri said that recent tests at Johns Hopkins revealed successful treatment, with only a 15 percent chance that the cancer may return in a couple years. That’s good enough news to suggest that Karl could be back in time for the second round of the NBA playoffs.
“I would say there’s a two-thirds chance he would be back for the second round,” said Dr. Sarri. “But that’s a rough estimate. There’s still a margin of error.â€
Karl will assuredly return to coaching in Denver as soon as possible, having stated that as his number one priority post-chemo. George may feel especially motivated to press himself back into service on the Denver bench now that his son Coby has signed a contract to join the team. Coby Karl will lend the Nuggets depth through the 2010 playoffs.
Karl’s life partner Kim Van Deraa had already revealed George’s unlikely 1st Round return, going so far as to cast doubt on a return to the Nuggets through the remainder of the postseason.
