Kings to keep George Karl as head coach

The Sacramento Kings will keep George Karl as their head coach despite several reports that he could be fired during the NBA All-Star break.

Kings general manager Vlade Divac said in a statement released Tuesday that Karl would not be dismissed.

Divac called Karl while the coach was at lunch in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Divac told Karl in a roughly five-minute conversation that they would work together and that better defense was needed, a source told Yahoo Sports. Karl took the lunch-time call privately with the expectation that he would be fired, a source told Yahoo.

“George will remain our coach. We are collectively working out our issues,” Divac said in the statement.

Karl is 33-50 as head coach of the Kings after being hired nearly a year ago. The Kings (21-31) have playoff aspirations, but have lost four straight games and eight of nine. “He is not a quitter,” a source close to Karl told Yahoo Sports, adding that Karl never had any intention of resigning during the recent turmoil.

Divac and Karl spoke in-depth Tuesday about improving the team’s defense, a source told Yahoo. The Kings are last in the NBA in points allowed at 109.1 per game and last in opponent 3-pointers made at 10.7. Sacramento plays its final game before the All-Star break Wednesday at Philadelphia.

Karl has had a history of having issues with star players and his tumultuous relationship with Kings All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins is no secret. Cousins criticized Karl after a 106-88 home loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 9. Karl also made an off-season comment implying that Cousins could be traded and later apologized. Cousins has said that he and Karl don’t have to be friends, but they have a common goal in wanting to win.