Karl Will Be Back, Radio Station Says

George Karl will apparently be back for a fourth season as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, despite losing in the opening round of the NBA playoffs for the second straight year, a Seattle radio station reported.

KJR-AM, which is owned by the same company that owns the Sonics, reported Tuesday night Karl had confirmed his return by phone that evening.

The team on Tuesday night would not confirm the report.

“I have no indication of that situation,” a spokeswoman said.

The KJR report said Karl told a broadcaster “he has gotten a vote of confidence from the management” and will be staying as coach.

There has been widespread speculation that Karl would be fired due to his team’s poor performances in the playoffs.

The Lakers upset the Sonics three games to one in the best-of-5 series this year after the Sonics lost to No. 8-seed Denver last year.

Owner Barry Ackerley, who also owns KJR, was not immediately available for comment.

At 202-86, Karl had the highest success rate in regular-season franchise history, .701 percent, but his teams were only 17-20 in four playoff appearances.

Kidd, Hill top rookies

Dallas guard Jason Kidd and Detroit forward Grant Hill will share the NBA’s rookie of the year award, according to a published report.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram said Kidd and Hill will be cowinners when the award is announced Wednesday.

The NBA wouldn’t confirm or deny the report.

Ford’s future unclear

Celtics coach Chris Ford is supposed to meet with director of basketball operations M.L. Carr sometime today, ostensibly to discuss his future with the club. Ford has two years left on his contract, but his security has been subject to speculation since well-publicized tangles with Dominique Wilkins and Dino Radja, and to a lesser extent Dee Brown, this season.

Carr, a former teammate who considers Ford a friend, had several opportunities during the regular season to affirm publicly his support for Ford, but each time he danced around the issue, talking about analyzing the entire operation at the end of the season.

Ewing limps along

New York center Patrick Ewing did not speak with reporters after practice Tuesday and he had a visible limp. But he is apparently ready to play in tonight’s do-or-die game against the Pacers.

The All-Star center has been outplayed by Indiana center Rik Smits, partly because of Ewing’s sore calves and partly because Smits has had an outstanding series.