Adrian Dantley fired by Denver Nuggets over seating issue – NBA Update
Adrian Dantley has finally broken his vow of silence and confirmed that he had indeed been fired from his job as assistant coach of the Denver Nuggets. The circumstances of the firing were considered controversial and Dantley confirmed
that in his interview.
According to Dantley he was let go because “I didn’t rotate on the bench”.
Dantley, who was regarded as head coach George Karl’s leading assistant had been with the Nuggets for eight years. He even replaced Karl temporarily during the time Karl took off to fight cancer.
The NBA allows only three assistant coaches to sit on the bench on the sidelines. The rest of them have to take seats behind the bench. Now Dantley being the senior assistant always sat in the front row, on the bench.
The rest of the coaches seemingly wanted a spot upfront as well and went to George Karl with their request. Karl asked Adrian earlier in the season to “rotate” on the bench so the other coaches could sit there as well.
Adrian Dantley decided to give them the front spot period and he sat behind for the Nuggets last 67 games of the season.
As petty as this seems, the reaction of the Nuggets and Karl was even worse. They fired Dantley. His contract is up and it will not be renewed. The former power forward, who is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, was understandably
livid at the whole fiasco
“I didn’t rotate,’’ said Dantley, “I wasn’t going to rotate. If they (other assistants) want the publicity to sit up front, I don’t need the publicity… I got no problem not being seen on TV and sitting at the back of the bench.’’
The whole thing does reek of some disrespect to a Hall of Famer who gave the franchise 8 years of service on the sidelines. Firing a guy like that because he let the other coaches sit in front just doesn’t add up.
Dantley went on meanwhile,
“This had to do with a whole lot of backstabbing,’’ Dantley said. “I got fired because I wouldn’t rotate. And people felt uncomfortable (about that).’’
In the end he just plain out said that the sad thing was his treatment after showing loyalty to the franchise over the years, through thick and thin,
“What upset me is the loyalty you show to someone and you get screwed,’’
Dantley certainly has a point and it is reported that he was fired just days after helping out in the workouts of draft prospects.
The Denver Nuggets and George Karl are yet to comment on the matter.
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