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Coby Karl sent down on eve of game vs. dad

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 28, 2007 at 6:07 p.m.
Updated November 28, 2007 at 7:35 p.m.

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LOS ANGELES -- Coby Karl will be playing today at the Staples Center.

It just won’t be against his father’s team.

Coby is scheduled to play in an afternoon game for the NBA Development League’s Los Angeles Defenders against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. But at least he will sit on the bench for tonight’s main event between the Lakers and the Nuggets, coached by George Karl.

Karl had been in line to become the third man to coach against his son in an NBA game. But that will have to wait, with the Lakers on Wednesday having assigned the rookie guard to the D-Fenders.

“This is not a sideshow,’’ Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said in a telephone interview. “We’re not looking to be in the position to just make this the third father-son (meeting). We’re trying to do what’s best for Coby and the Lakers.’’

Kupchak said what’s best now is for Coby to get playing time. He wasn’t getting that with the Lakers, having logged just four minutes in two games.

So history will have to wait for a third father to face his son.

On Nov. 9, 1976, the New Orleans Jazz’s Butch Van Breda Kolff met son Jan Van Breda Kolff of the New York Nets. And Mike Dunleavy Sr. of the Los Angeles Clippers has coached in 16 regular-season games against Mike Dunleavy Jr., the first 13 when Mike Jr. was with Golden State and the next three after Mike Jr. was traded last January to Indiana.

“We knew that it was Denver (on the schedule), but our thoughts were really based on what’s best for Coby and the Lakers,’’ Kupchak said. “He probably wasn’t going to play (tonight). And, if he did, it was only going to be for a minute.’

The Lakers and the Nuggets again play next Wednesday at the Pepsi Center. However, Lakers assistant general manager Ronnie Lester said Coby likely will still be then with the D-Fenders, a team the Lakers own and share a practice facility with.

“It’s not a one-, two- or three-day assignment,’’ Kupchak stressed.

The Karls, neither of whom could immediately be reached, were looking forward to Thursday’s possible matchup, even if were a long shot Coby would play.

“To go into a game and look over and see my father coaching against me, it would be kind of surreal,’’ Coby had said.

Karl didn’t hide he fact part of him would be rooting for Coby.

“If he gets in the game, I’ll probably cheer for him,’’ Karl had said. “I’m not going to deny that I’m a father before I’m a coach.’’

Kupchak said he expects Karl, his former teammate at North Carolina to give him some grief for the move. Kupchak left a message for Karl, but had not heard from him by early Wednesday evening.

The Nuggets and the Lakers meet for a third and final time this season Jan. 21 in Los Angeles, but there’s no guarantee Coby still will be with the Lakers then. He signed a $427,163 minimum contract, with just $100,000 of it guaranteed.

The Lakers must make a call on Coby by Jan. 10. If he’s still on the roster then, his contract is guaranteed for the season.

“It’s tough to speculate on what’s going to happen two months down the road,’’ Kupchak said.

The Lakers, though, will have a much better idea once they see Coby log big minutes in the NBADL.

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