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Power ranking NBA head coaches: 2015-16 season

By John Buhler

Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2015; Manchester, NH, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens gestures from the sidelines during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Verizon Wireless Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl during the second half agent the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 116-109. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl during the second half agent the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 116-109. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

15. George Karl, Sacramento Kings

Though George Karl is in a difficult situation with his relatively new gig with the Sacramento Kings, it’s not fair to discredit his overall body of work as an NBA head coach just because the Kings are one of the most dysfunctional organizations in the NBA.

Karl has a career 1,147-784 regular season record, winning over 50 games a season a dozen times, taken five different teams to the playoffs, won NBA Coach of the Year in 2012-13 for his stellar job with the Denver Nuggets, and led the Seattle SuperSonics to a Western Conference Championship in 1995-96.

George Karl is arguably one of the best NBA head coaches to never win an NBA Championship. He’s in that discussion with the likes of Don Nelson and Jerry Sloan. Though his is 63 years old and his Sacramento Kings are 5-9, if the ownership group with the Kings give him a little more time, he could get Sacramento back in the playoffs after a decade’s absence. The Kings have a sneaky good lineup and just needs a veteran coach who is patient enough to teach this long-suffering club how to win.

Karl has the luxury of a top ten player in center DeMarcus Cousins, a great scorer in wing Rudy Gay, and an aging former NBA Champion at point guard in Rajon Rondo. George Karl does have his team playing with pace, as the Kings lead the NBA in possessions per game with 100.2. Now they just have to work on offense (19th) and defense (22nd) and they’ll be fine.

George Karl may have bit off more than he could chew with this era of the Sacramento Kings, but his NBA legacy is one of greatness. Seattle, Milwaukee, and Denver were better organizations after having George Karl as their head coach.

Next: 14. Terry Stotts

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