Nuggets coach George Karl took umbrage with a line in a newspaper report that suggested forward Kenyon Martin’s name came up in trade talks because he is “not a favorite” of Karl’s.
“My response to that is I think it’s absurd,” Karl said of The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger story. “I think Kenyon and I, because of his injuries and the inconsistency of the basketball team, we’re not chummy-chummy guys. But I think he’s played great in January.
“I think he’s been a major factor in us staying in first place. I know his knee bothers him and I know mentally trade talks bother everybody. But he’s a pro. I never believe trades are going to be made until they are made. Most of the trades are gossip, 95 percent somewhat fabrication. That quote is the same thing – fabrication.”
He added, “A story gets told. Another story gets told. There might have been a time when I was angry at Kenyon and something’s fabricated.”
Asked to address his relationship with Karl in response to the story, Martin replied, “Next question.”
Camby still quiet
Denver center Marcus Camby would not directly address his disappointment at not playing in the fourth quarter of his team’s loss at Golden State on Monday.
“Today’s a new day,” Camby said. “We’ve got the Chicago Bulls. That’s all I’m worried about.”
He said he had not talked with Karl about the decision and ended the interview when asked if he hopes to meet with Karl. For his part, Karl said he hopes his players are upset when they don’t play.
“I thought we had a great fourth quarter and hopefully he feels the team made a great comeback in the fourth quarter,” Karl said. “Ninety percent of the time he’s going to be a part of that.”
Footnotes
Martin sat out Wednesday’s game after his surgically repaired left knee flared up. … Carmelo Anthony said he knows Orlando guard and fellow Marylander Steve Francis “pretty well,” but he would not comment on trade rumors linking Francis to the Nuggets. … Anthony’s first three points of the night sent him past current Altitude announcer Bill Hanzlik for 19th on the team’s all-time scoring list. Asked if that marked the first time he had been mentioned with Hanzlik in the same sentence, the third-year forward laughed and replied, “There’s a first time for everything.” Told about the record before the game, Karl quipped, “How many years did Hanzlik play, 15?” For the record, Hanzlik scored 4,546 points between 1982 and 1990 for Denver.
