The Newest Nuggets Beat with Aaron Lopez Blog Entry on Former Nuggets and Coach Karl's Son Coby to play in Spain next season

Here is The Newest Nuggets Beat with Aaron Lopez Blog Entry on Former Nuggets and Coach Karl's Son Coby to play in Spain next season:

Coby Karl agrees to contract to play in Spain

submitted by Aaron Lopez 9-23-10

Coby Karl’s basketball journey is headed back overseas.

Karl, the son of Nuggets coach George Karl, said Thursday he has agreed to a one-year contract with CB Granada of the Spanish ACB, one of the world’s top professional leagues.

Karl, a 27-year-old combo guard, signed with the Nuggets on April 11 but did not appear in any regular-season or playoff games. After averaging 14 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists for Denver’s summer league team in Las Vegas, he was waived on Aug. 15.

“I don’t think it’s by any means having the (NBA) dream end,” he said. “I think it’s a process and a step. It’s been frustrating at times, but I’m very happy with where I am as player right now. I’m getting better and I still think there will be an opportunity in the future.”

After going undrafted out of Boise State in 2007, Karl has bounced between the NBA, the NBA Development League and the Spanish ACB. He has averaged 2.4 points and 1.2 rebounds in 24 career games with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors.

Karl has shown that he has the skills and basketball IQ to play in the NBA – he had 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Golden State on Feb. 2 – but he’s never been given a chance to play consistent minutes.

“You’re never going to change people’s minds that have impressions. It just takes one guy to like you,” he said. “It’s a game that you have to have patience and wait for the opportunity.”

After validating his talent in summer-league play, Karl returned to Denver to work on his perimeter shot and improve his overall game. Unable to find a suitable opportunity at an NBA training camp, he opted for the guaranteed contract in Spain, where the experience and exposure are invaluable while competing against NBA-caliber players such as Ricky Rubio, Jorge Garbajosa and Juan Carlos Navarro.

“I think Coby has done a great job with his career,” George Karl said. “I’m very proud of him. I wish I could see him play here in the NBA, but I think more realistic is he’ll play a lot of minutes in Spain. In the last couple years, the game of basketball hasn’t given back to him what I think he’s deserved, and maybe he’ll find that in Spain.”