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NBA: Best player and coach pairing from each team’s history

By Tony Pesta

LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - MARCH 2: Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs talks with head coach Gregg Popovich during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won 106-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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(Photo By Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
(Photo By Cyrus McCrimmon/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

Best coach/player pairing in Denver Nuggets history: George Karl & Carmelo Anthony

Though his current reputation has taken a significant hit, Carmelo Anthony was at one time, a basketball prodigy. The NCAA champion helped lead the Denver Nuggets to the NBA Playoffs as he rivaled LeBron James for the Rookie of the Year Award.

It was clear that Anthony had talent, but it wasn’t until George Karl become the head coach that he truly took the next step in his development. Karl utilized Carmelo’s skill-set to it’s biggest advantage, allowing Melo to be Melo.

The Nuggets finished top-two in their division each season with Melo and Karl, totaling three 50-win seasons.

Melo bloomed into a four-time All-Star and averaged 25.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in his six seasons with Karl.

Challenging Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 Western Conference Finals, this duo came excruciatingly close to reaching the NBA Finals. Though Anthony put up nearly 30 points per game, his Nuggets lost the series in six games.

By the time they parted ways in the 2010-11 season, Karl had won multiple Coach of the Month Awards and Melo was a borderline MVP candidate. It’s a shame they never managed to win a championship together, but they sure made a great duo.

As we look back at Anthony’s career, this stretch was perhaps his most impressive. Unfortunately, Anthony’s career didn’t go as we all thought it would. Still, it would be an absolute shock if he didn’t reach the Hall of Fame.