George Karl has a new autobiography out, and he has apparently taken the concept that it takes a little dirt and mudslinging to sell a book to new heights.
He slammed Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin for their attitudes as “AAU babies” and blamed it on their fatherless upbringings. When asked to address it, Anthony avoided the question Thursday.
Kenyon Martin had no such qualms fired back on Twitter.
I didn't have a father going up. We all know that. What's George Karl excuse for being a terrible person
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
Everyone that's played for that awful person and coach can't stand the ground he walks on
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
George Karl is selfish,unhappy,missable,,cowardly person. No wonder he's be fired every place he has coached
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
The book he is writing is full of lies and deceit. By far the worst coach that ever played for
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
Talking bout Melo didn't like defense. Hell he never coached defense. How does that work
— Kenyon Martin Sr. (@KenyonMartinSr) December 22, 2016
That was just a sampling of Martin’s rant, there’s more.
Karl also took this shot at J.R. Smith (all of whom Karl coached in Denver).
But Earl Smith Jr. urged his son to shoot the ball and keep shooting it from the very moment I put him in a game, which is obviously bad.
Smith tweeted this a quality one-liner in response.
Still trying to be relevant. Sad just sad.
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) December 22, 2016
Reggie Evans — also on those Nuggets teams — added this.
I had some good Denver Nuggets Teammates. That dude is old and unhappy with himself.
— ReggieEvans30 (@ReggieEvans30) December 22, 2016
Former Nets’ executive Bobby Marks — now part of The Vertical at Yahoo Sports — chimed in with this.
I had the honor of working with @KenyonMartinSr in New Jersey for 4 seasons. Nothing but class from K-Mart.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 22, 2016
Karl has had plenty of rocky relationships with players — remember DeMarcus Cousins’ “snake in the grass” tweet when Karl was going behind the rest of the organization’s back trying to push a trade. No coach should expect all his players to love him, but do you hear this kind of disrespect from players talking about other elite coaches?