
Oct 19, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) talks with Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts (Left) during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Trail Blazers won 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-325964 ORIG FILE ID: 20161019_gma_ai4_237.jpg
Kudos to Terry Stotts for playing no games with George Karl!
Karl, in an interview published by New York Magazine on Wednesday criticized Damian Lillard’s personal brand off the court and believed that it was affecting the Trail Blazers on the court.
Stotts was having none of it, telling Karl to “stay in his own lane.”
“I owe a lot to George,” Stotts said. “I got my start in coaching with George. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him, he’s a successful coach. That being said, if he wants to diminish his chances for the Hall of Fame, if he wants to undermine his chances of being a head coach again in this league, if he wants to settle old scores with GMs, players or whoever else, that’s his prerogative. But when it comes to my team and my players, he needs to stay in his own lane.
“He doesn’t know Damian Lillard. He doesn’t know how coachable he is. He doesn’t know what a great teammate he is. He doesn’t know how much Damian cares about winning and how important he is to this franchise. And however well intended [his comments] may have been, which I don’t understand, I can’t tolerate.”
Stotts used to be an assistant coach under Karl, starting in the now-defunct Continental Basketball Association and then with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Milwaukee Bucks. But whatever relationship they might have had before, it now appears to be a thing of the past.“I won’t reach out, there’s no reason to be personable,” Stotts said. “Other than it is pretty personable when you start commenting on our players and their character.”
Stotts let it be known he won’t be order that book either.
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