Top 23 Quotes & Sayings by George Karl

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American coach George Karl.

Last updated on December 23, 2024.

George Matthew Karl is an American former professional basketball coach and player. After spending five years as a player for the San Antonio Spurs, Karl became an assistant with the team before getting the chance to become a head coach in 1981 with the Continental Basketball Association. Three years later, he became one of the youngest NBA head coaches in history when he was named coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers at age 33. By the time his coaching career came to an end in 2016, Karl would coach for nine different teams in three different leagues, which included being named Coach of the Year three combined times with one championship in the FIBA Saporta Cup. He is one of nine coaches in NBA history to have won 1,000 NBA games and was named NBA Coach of the Year for the 2012-13 season. While he never won an NBA championship, Karl made the postseason 22 times with five different teams, which included a trip to the 1996 NBA Finals with the Seattle SuperSonics.

American - Coach | Born: May 12, 1951

Source: Wikipedia

I truthfully think, a consistent coach over 30 years, probably, I'd rather be that than having one championship and mediocrity for years.

George Karl

I think we, as pro coaches, should have a consciousness towards having an image and a role model mentality for kids.

George Karl

Who is the ally of the coach? Who's going to write, 'Man, that was a well-coached game.' Players win, coaches lose.

George Karl

I want to be the team that creates the action more than be the reactor.

George Karl

In the NBA, you win, and you think you're going to win tomorrow. But as soon as you lose, you don't think you're ever going to win again.

George Karl

The great player, so much of the greatness, in my mind, is in his heart and his head. It's not in his body, in his skill set. It comes from having great talent but wanting to mold that and fit it together into being special. And being special means winning championships.

George Karl

The truth of basketball is done in competition and fundamentals and team, but there's a lot of other junk that goes around the game.

George Karl

One thing I'll tell you is the food in Sacramento is off the charts. You've got good Asian food, the farm system where everything is natural, which I believe in. I like organic.

George Karl

The best player I ever coached was Gary Payton.

George Karl

Coaches don't sleep for a reason. They don't sleep because it's a danger zone every night. Very seldom do you ever get two or three days off... The lifestyle of coaching in the NBA is a tremendous challenge that gives you tremendous highs but also tremendous lows.

George Karl

In coaching, you don't ever really have that joyful fun, but there's no question that it's enjoyable.

George Karl

I want to try to prove the world wrong - that you can run and win in the NBA, and you can win big if you keep running. The problem is, can you run for 82 games every minute, every possession of every game?

George Karl

There should not be an entitlement that because you get paid the most money, that you should finish every game. But if you don't do it, then the agents are going to call, and the players are going to mope, and so you negotiate that. It's a compromise as a coach.

George Karl

I kind of lived by the code of 'I'm going to be a hard-working guy.' And no matter how successful, there is something I can do better. That's kind of the drive I live on.

George Karl

You always spend a little more time watching the guys you coached, to see how they're playing. And there's no question that when I check scores, I still go to the Nuggets scorer faster than any other scores. I have a lot of love for the players and a lot of love for the city.

George Karl

I would never predict a run like that. Last season, that's beyond reality. I think we can go 25-14. I think we can play 10 games over .500, even more than (that) over .500, and that would be a great run. Any time you go 30-15 or something like that, that's pretty incredible basketball.

George Karl

A coke machine can get a rebound in 20 minutes.

George Karl

Everyday we are going to fight lazy and soft. It's completely unacceptable. You have to be demanding

George Karl

The truth of the matter is, we're not far away from where we should be. We can complain about the problem or we can go out and solve the problem. I choose to go out and try to solve the problem.

George Karl

Just because we play in the NBA or coach in the NBA doesn't mean we are not human. We are supermen. For me, getting shot is scary.

George Karl

Good teams don't care about who scores. Good teams just care about scoring; they don't care who does it.

George Karl

When your best player puts it on the line every day, the other guys can't cut corners

George Karl

Financial literacy is not an end in itself, but a step-by-step process. It begins in childhood and continues throughout a person's life all the way to retirement. Instilling the financial-literacy message in children is especially important, because they will carry it for the rest of their lives. The results of the survey are very encouraging, and we want to do our part to make sure all children develop and strengthen their financial-literacy skills.

George Karl

Top 23 Quotes & Sayings by George Karl

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