KARL gets 1,000th victory...with coaching stints in the ABA, NBA, and SPAIN...an ALL-TIME Great on and off the HARDWOOD...and a survivor of CANCER.

GEORGE MATTHEW KARL won his 1,000th game this week coaching the DENVER NUGGETS. One of the BLUEDUDE'S favorite NBA Coaches of All-Time and NBA Coaching Great, Karl epitomizes an NBA Lifer and Professional Basketball Coach.

After starring at the University of NORTH CAROLINA Chapel Hill, Karl started a 2-year ABA playing career with the San Antonio SPURS. After playing he stayed on with the SPURS as an assistant coach. Then he took a ABA head coaching job with GREAT FALLS Montana Nuggets to began his coaching career.

His first NBA Head Coaching job was with the Cleveland Cavaliers and then onto the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS. His Coaching career took off after he left the Warriors and took another ABA Stint with the ALBANY PATROONS and in the Middle of two stints with the Patroons he coached REAL MADRID Spain.

It was the 1990-91 Coaching Campaign where KARL went 50-6 with the ALbany PATROONS where his coaching success had been realized. With the likes of MARIO ELIE ( ex-champion with the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs played with CHRIS MULLIN at Power Memorial HS in NYC now an assistant with the SACRAMENTO KINGS) and VINCENT ASKEW ( MEMPHIS STATE Great and later starred for KARL in SEATTLE with the SUPERSONICS).

Karl best coaching job was his 7 years (1991-1998) with the SUPERSONICS where he had over 50 wins in all 7 seasons and winning 3 Division Titles. He coached some of the best NBA Players of our time in Detlef Schrempf, "the GLOVE" Gary Payton, "the RAIN MAN" SHAWN KEMP, NATE McMILLAN ( who now coaches the TrailBlazers and was head man in SEATTLE before that and current US National Team Assisitant), HERSEY HAWKINS, and DEREK McKEY to name a few.

He then coached the 2002 US National Team that lost in the FIBA World Championships in INDIANAPOLIS which was the turning point of the US NATIONAL TEAM taking a different Approach to how they put the team together. It was a humbling experience for KARL and all those involved.

KARL has since been manning the DENVER NUGGETS sideline with All-STAR CARMELO ANTHONY and Chauncey BILLUPS from 2005- present.

On and off the last couple of years KARL has been in a fight with THROAT CANCER and has been winning them battles. Seeing how Coach coaches and how he communicates and manages players is no surprise that he has overcome these battles twice now.

After sitting out most of last year he is back now doing what Coach has always loved to do Coaching in the Association. Hats off to one of the ALL-TIME greats in the Business and Good luck to Coach, his family, and all those around him.

KARL is only the 7th NBA Coach to get to 1,000 Victories.