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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Karl No Lock To Remain A Sonic Seattle Coach Will Weigh Good Times Against Scars On His Heart And Head

Jim Cour Associated Press

If the Seattle SuperSonics lose Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, George Karl might walk away from the final year of his contract.

“I’m happy and I’m hopeful for a future in Seattle, but there’s a lot of things up here and a lot of scars from the past couple of years,” the coach said Saturday, pointing at his head.

“I don’t know. The great thing for me is the happiness of the team and I like being part of this team. But there are other things and there are negatives and scars in my heart and my brain that I will evaluate after this season.”

Karl, 45, was unhappy at the end of the season that Sonics owner Barry Ackerley didn’t give him a contract extension after he coached the team to a franchise-record 64 victories.

After being upset in the first round of the playoffs the past two seasons, the Sonics beat Sacramento in the opening round and then swept two-time defending champion Houston in the conference semifinals.

During the playoffs, the Sonics picked up the option year of Karl’s contract, guaranteeing his full $1.1 million salary next season. They said they would talk to him about a contract extension after the season ends.

If the Sonics beat the Utah Jazz in today’s Game 7 of the conference finals, they will go to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1979.

The Sonics had a 3-1 lead over Utah but lost Game 5 in overtime at home and were blown out by 35 points in Salt Lake City Thursday night.

Win or lose, the Sonics have a lot to be proud about, Karl said.

“I think right now the three best basketball teams are still playing,” he said of the Sonics, Jazz and Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls. “That doesn’t talk about talent. I’m saying the best conceptual teams in the game are still playing.

“Orlando is probably more talented. San Antonio might be more talented. But I think the guys who rely upon each other and rely upon conceptual philosophies are still playing.”

The 1993 Sonics, under Karl, lost to Phoenix in seven games in the Western Conference finals.

In Karl’s 4 seasons in Seattle, the Sonics have won 72 percent (266-104) of their regular-season games.

Following Saturday’s practice, an obviously nervous Karl said he didn’t expect to sleep well Saturday night because of today’s big game.

“It’s the anxiety and then the dream,” he said. “It’s the elation and the depression. It’s like you’re on a roller coaster. Then you’ve got to wait in line to get back on it. It’s not probably healthy, I guess.”

After the season, six Sonics will become free agents; Gary Payton, Sam Perkins, Hersey Hawkins, Ervin Johnson, Frank Brickowski and Steve Scheffler. In addition, Vincent Askew has the option to be a free agent or return for the final year of his contract.