The hope was that Coby Karl would play today, and, indeed, that will be the case — for the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers moved the rookie Karl, son of Nuggets coach George Karl, down to their Developmental League affiliate. The D-Fenders play at home this afternoon. And so, Coby Karl won’t become just the third NBA player to play against a team coached by his father, at least not yet. Though he won’t play in the Lakers-Nuggets game tonight at the Staples Center, it’s possible Karl could rejoin the Lakers on Wednesday for a game at the Pepsi Center. The Lakers play the Nuggets once more after that, Jan. 21 in Los Angeles.
“Sure, it’s disappointing,” George Karl said. “At the same time, I’m obviously a big fan of the minor leagues. Sometimes you get stale when you sit around, so he gets a chance to play and get better.”
Though the roster move seemed sour, considering the historical circumstances, Lakers coach Phil Jackson said last week there was a chance he would move one of his two rookies to the D-League.
And the move could give George Karl an opportunity to watch his son play extended minutes, because the D-Fenders play at 4:30 p.m. today, while the Nuggets-Lakers game tips off at 8:30 p.m.
Last season, Lakers guard Jordan Farmar played in a D-League game during the day and a Lakers game that same night. Though the schedule would allow it, a Lakers spokesman said “that’s not going to happen Thursday.” Coby Karl will likely sit behind the Lakers’ bench tonight.
The 6-foot-5 Karl has scored just two points in four minutes for the Lakers this season.
Nuggets to add size. After opening a roster spot by waiving guard Mike Wilks, the Nuggets expect to sign center Jelani McCoy, who also plays for the D-Fenders.
“He can help practice habits, situations where we need bigger bodies in practice,” George Karl said Wednesday, before the team traveled to Los Angeles. “And if (center) Marcus Camby were to get an injury or foul trouble, we’re very small.”
Power forward Nene (thumb) and center Steven Hunter (knee) are out for at least a month, and starting power forward Kenyon Martin suffered a bone bruise in his knee last week. Though the Nuggets are hopeful Martin can play tonight, he is still playing limited minutes because he is returning from knee surgery.
On Tuesday night, Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien watched McCoy’s game in person, and McCoy scored six points with 10 rebounds and five blocks.
The 29-year-old UCLA product averaged 8.0 points and 6.5 rebounds for the D-Fenders. McCoy had been in Nuggets camp this preseason.
In seven NBA seasons, McCoy has seen action for five teams, with career averages of 4.7 points and 3.6 assists.
Tops in steals. The Nuggets entered Wednesday averaging an NBA-best 10.4 steals per game, though they were seventh in steal differential, allowing 9.33 steals. Guard Allen Iverson was third among individuals with 2.53 per game, trailing Utah’s Ronnie Brewer (2.60) and New Orleans’ Chris Paul (3.00).
The top six teams in steals all entered Wednesday at .500 or better.
DENVER AT LOS ANGELES LAKERS
8:30 p.m. tonight, TNT, KKFN 950 AM
Spotlight on Kobe Bryant: Bryant entered Wednesday second in the NBA in scoring at 27.9 points per game, though he remains disgruntled with the Lakers. But his success has helped Los Angeles to an 8-6 start, including wins against Detroit, Utah, Houston and Phoenix. If they keep this up, it’s likely the Lakers won’t move Bryant until after the season. He has scored 40 or more points four times against the Nuggets.
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets: Guard Allen Iverson is in a self-proclaimed “slump.” He shot just 6-for-21 from the field in Tuesday’s loss to Indiana. He scored just 18 and 13 points in the two previous games. Guard J.R. Smith scored 13 points in the loss to the Pacers, but eight came in the feverish final minute. Other than that, he shot 1-for-8 from the field. Guard Anthony Carter tied a career high with eight rebounds against the Pacers.
Lakers: The Lakers are fifth in the NBA in scoring, while the Nuggets are fourth. The Lakers won just one of four games against the Nuggets last season, the first time Los Angeles lost the season series since 1993-94. Center Andrew Bynum, whose name often surfaces in Bryant trade rumors, entered Wednesday 12th in the NBA with 10.1 rebounds per game.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
