George Karl to Coach West All-Stars

Dallas’ loss in Phoenix last night clinched the gig for Karl: “Nuggets coach George Karl is officially an All-Star. Late Thursday night, he became the second coach in Nuggets history to earn an All-Star coaching spot. Larry Brown (1977) was the first. Karl clinched the coaching spot by virtue of Dallas’ loss to Phoenix on Thursday night. The Nuggets are assured of finishing with at least a tie for the second-best record in the conference, and since Lakers coach Phil Jackson cannot coach the game, having done so last season, Karl is in. It is Karl’s fourth time coaching an All-Star game, and first since 1998.”