Daily NBA Fix: George Karl Passes Phil Jackson On All-Time Wins List
By Ben Gibson
George Karl picked up his 1,156th coaching victory on Monday, passing Phil Jackson and taking sole possession of fifth place on the NBA’s all-time list.
Sometimes a long coaching career like George Karl‘s ends up looking more like a grind than a success. He’s coached 27 years and only been to the NBA Finals once, back in the 1995-96 season when his Seattle SuperSonics lost to the man who he just passed on the wins list, Phil Jackson, and the Chicago Bulls.
But that would ignore the fact he could coach more than four winless 82-game seasons before his career record would fall below .500, as his record is currently at 1,156–795.
Monday night’s win was nothing easy either as the Sacramento Kings beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-104 on the road.
Related Story: Are The 2014-15 Golden State Warriors An All-Time Great Team?
More importantly for the Kings after a 1-7 start to the season that made a Karl departure seem imminent, things have stabilized. The Kings record is 14-20, and while that isn’t impressive, it means Sacramento is .500 since the headlines were calling for the heads of Karl and DeMarcus Cousins. Both seem to have a smile more often than not now.
The two shared a laugh after Karl picked up a technical during a game against the Phoenix Suns last week.
One Vine may not give us an accurate representation of the relationship between Karl and Cousins now, but things certainly seem better in Sacramento.
DeMarcus and the Kings didn’t need another coach; they’ve been through three in the past two seasons, so a stabilization of things is exactly what this team needed. If things would have continued as they started and the Kings were still in single-digit wins right now, the calls for change would still be coming. That isn’t what Sacramento wants or needs.
Karl picked a good as time as any to pass Jackson, and if the Kings continue to play winning basketball, there may be a new normal in Sacramento.
Triple Triple-Double for Draymond
The triple-double has always been a sign of a player’s versatility as it usually comes from the points, rebounds, and assists categories. With 13 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists Monday night, Draymond Green picked up his third straight triple-double in an 111-101 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Yes, you read that right. Three games is a row with double-digits in three categories. Over that stretch, he’s averaging 17.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 13.3 assists because the Golden State Warriors like to make a mockery of what’s considered greatness in the NBA.
On a five-game win streak? Big a deal, talk to the Warriors when it gets in the 20s. Did you get a triple-double? Get two more of them. Golden State mocks your sense of achievement.
Bosh, Wade Leads the Miami Heat To Win Over the Indiana Pacers
Missed free throws helped doom the Indiana Pacers as they fell to the Miami Heat on Monday, but Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh helped put salt in the wounds of their old rival, winning 103-100.
The two helped drag their team back from an 18-point deficit despite Paul George scoring 32 points and looking better than he has of late. While the Pacers were missing what would have been winning free throws, Bosh was knocking down seven of his eight. Wade put the game into overtime with a drive to the basket and a left-handed layup.
More hoops habit: 25 Worst Individual Seasons In NBA History
The Cleveland Cavaliers are still the kings of the East, but the Heat are making a charge at disrupting the status quo as they are three games back.