George Karl on Carmelo Anthony: “He likes to score more than he likes to play defense”

Former Nuggets caput manager George Karl this week stirred up plentifulness of enactment online, including people wishing decease upon him, aft comments helium made astir his erstwhile prima guardant Carmelo Anthony.

Those comments?

“That Melo was a shot hog and (expletive) defender successful Denver,” Karl tweeted.

I deliberation astatine slightest 100 radical told maine connected present to dice oregon rot successful hellhole successful the past 24 hours.

Cmon folks. That’s not benignant oregon cool. 👎

Lighten up and observe life!! 👍

— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) August 11, 2021

On Wednesday’s occurrence of “Tiki & Tierney” connected CBS Sports Radio, the 70-year-old erstwhile caput manager elaborated connected the comments and his narration with Anthony during their tenure unneurotic successful Denver. Karl coached Anthony from 2005-11 wherever the 2 made the postseason six times together, including a Western Conference Finals tally successful 2010.

“Melo was a large subordinate for me. I can’t contradict that helium turned this franchise successful Denver around. It was him much than anybody else,” Karl said connected the show. “He’s a almighty player, but he’s an individualist. And helium likes to people much than helium likes to play defense.

“My disapproval was conscionable to poke the carnivore a small spot connected thing that happened 8 years ago, and person amusive with it. But unluckily Twitter gets aggravated … and wants to commencement a battle.”

Here’s a look astatine immoderate of Karl’s comments:

On Melo’s role:

“The past 2 oregon 3 years, Melo has been great. I privation Melo would’ve accepted this relation of being a seat player, alternatively of 2 years ago, 4 oregon 5 years agone due to the fact that I deliberation helium would’ve won sixth antheral of the twelvemonth award. I deliberation helium would’ve been similar Jamal Crawford.”

On if helium would beryllium blessed if Anthony wins a championship:

“No question. (Former Nuggets guard) J.R. Smith won the title — I ne'er thought that could happen. … When J.R. won the title successful Cleveland, I was elated.”

On if helium thinks the Nuggets could person won a title:

“I deliberation we were bully capable a mates of those years to beryllium a title contender. The twelvemonth that I got sick was our champion twelvemonth to triumph it. That was the twelvemonth I came down with crab and couldn’t decorativeness the season. I thought successful January and February of that play we were playing a small spot amended than everybody other successful basketball.

“In the twelvemonth we mislaid to the Lakers (in the Western Conference Finals) with Chauncey (Billups) … if we were a small much unneurotic and had won that series, I deliberation we would person gone connected and won the NBA championship.”

After Karl’s archetypal comments connected Twitter, helium responded to respective fans and shared what helium thought of Anthony’s bequest successful the Mile High City.

I’ve said it earlier – 1 of the large scorers the crippled has ever seen. He’s a HOFer and his Jersey should bent successful Denver.

He Wasn’t a squad archetypal subordinate oregon bully defender present successful Denver. And it upset america erstwhile helium asked for a commercialized particularly aft I was sick.

And truthful it is!! https://t.co/ZQFUWWraXj

— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) August 10, 2021

“I’ve said it earlier — 1 of the large scorers the crippled has ever seen. He’s a HOFer and his jersey should bent successful Denver,” Karl tweeted Tuesday.

He added: “He wasn’t a squad archetypal subordinate oregon bully defender present successful Denver. And it upset america erstwhile helium asked for a commercialized particularly aft I was sick. And truthful it is!”