The Sacramento Kings are a total dumpster fire, with each passing day serving as more fuel to the blaze.
Following the 1-7 team’s most recent loss — an 18-point home blowout to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday — star center DeMarcus Cousins reportedly “stormed into the locker room and cursed out head coach George Karl with a torrent of obscenities,” according to The Big Lead, citing sources with knowledge of the situation.
Karl apparently just walked away, choosing not to engage the 25-year-old.
Cousins reportedly felt bad about the altercation after cooling down and asked teammates if he was too hard on the 64-year-old, who replied “You can’t scream and curse like that at your coach in front of everyone.”
The team had a players-only meeting Tuesday to “vent” their frustrations, but when the meeting had ended, general manager Vlade Divac and assistant GM Mike Bratz approached players in the locker room and asked them if they wanted Karl fired, claiming they “didn’t know what to do with him,” The Big Lead added.
The players reportedly were left stunned and speechless.
Cousins publicly apologized Wednesday for the outburst, saying he let his frustration get the best of him — and that his frustration was not aimed at any one coach or player, but rather the group and their mess of a record as a whole.
Karl reportedly wanted to suspend Cousins two games for the outburst, but Divac told Karl he “did not have authority to suspend Cousins nor would (he) grant permission,” according to the Sacramento Bee.
Still, Cousins’ apology might not be enough to save Karl’s job, which is in danger according to USA TODAY Sports’ Sam Amick.
“George Karl is in trouble. Even those closest to him are willing to admit that much,” Amick wrote. “… (He) isn’t seen internally as their coach for the long-haul anymore. Barring a shocking turnaround — and by that, we’re talking a 40-plus win season that seems unlikely — that much has become increasingly clear.”
Amick adds that if things get any worse, “his dismissal could come this week.”
It doesn’t sound like Karl, who signed a four-year, $15 million contract in February, cares if he’s fired, either.
“But Karl, whose hiring had as much to do with the Kings’ business situation as it did basketball, is going to be just fine no matter what happens,” Amick added.
What a mess, indeed.
Thumbnail photo via Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports Images
