George Karl (1973) - Patterson Medal Winners - University of North Carolina Athletics

George Karl

Induction:
1973
Class:
1973

1973— George Karl: Men’s Basketball (Penn Hills, Pa.)
Inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. Point guard for the Tar Heels from 1971-73. Led UNC to the 1971 NIT championship and ACC title and Final Four in 1972. The Tar Heels won 80 games and seven tournaments in his three seasons. First-team All-ACC in 1973, second team in 1971 and 1972. Averaged 13.8 points and 4.2 assists, including 17.0 points and 5.8 assists as a senior. Led UNC in scoring and assists as a senior. Set the career assist record by a Tar Heel with 394. Career-high 31 points vs. Virginia in 1973. Played against the Soviet Union and China as an amateur with U.S. teams.

Played in the ABA and NBA with the San Antonio Spurs.

Won 1,175 games in 22 seasons as an NBA head coach, the sixth-most regular-season wins in NBA history. Was the NBA Coach of the Year in 2013, coached in four all-star games and led the Seattle Sonics to the NBA Finals in 1996.

Inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2022.