DALLAS — Chauncey Billups spotted George Karl holding court Friday, so the Nuggets point guard diced through the crowd as if he were in a game, made eye contact with his coach and said in a facetiously negative tone, “One more year with you, man?”
Both chuckled and then shook hands.
“Congratulations,” Billups said.
On Friday, Karl agreed to a one-year contract extension for $4.5 million — which could reach $5.5 million with incentives, a league source said. The deal puts to rest speculation that Karl, the coach of the Western Conference all-stars and the first- place Nuggets, would have become a free agent this summer because his $3 million contract would have expired after this season.
“He earned it,” Nuggets all-star Carmelo Anthony said of Karl’s extension. “Winning settles a lot. When you win, good things happen.”
In Dallas for this weekend’s all-star festivities, Karl was relieved that a deal got done. He has often spoken about his love for Denver, which he has called home since January 2005. And the contract likely will inspire his staff to stay for another season.
“I think (Nuggets owner) Stan Kroenke has rewarded me to where I’m very satisfied with it,” said Karl, a member of the NBA’s prestigious 900-win club. “I have a pretty good team, and our window is at least this year and next year to win (a title). And I’m happy that I’ll have the opportunity to win my 1,000th game in Denver.”
Karl’s lawyer Bret Adams did most of the negotiating with Paul Andrews, the executive vice president of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, but a recent meeting between the coach and owner helped nail down the extension. And now, Karl, 58, won’t have to worry about lingering contract negotiations being “a distraction.”
“We are pleased with the progress the Nuggets have made over the last five years,” Kroenke said in a statement. “George has played a pivotal role in our success. His extension is well-deserved. George and our entire organization remain focused on one goal: bringing an NBA championship to Denver.”
Karl hoped for a longer contract extension than just one season, and that was a possibility, a league source said, but it would have been for less money per year than the one-year extension that Karl agreed to. Moreover, there is a looming NBA lockout in the summer of 2011 that many in the league think is a realistic possibility.
“There’s obviously some lockout effect on everything right now,” Karl said. “Even if a coach signs a longer (contract), there’s going to be a lockout clause. For me, there would have been. . . . I’m not afraid of a one-year contract. I’ve been on the last year of a contract this year, and I don’t think it’s affected me much.”
According to Forbes Magazine, the average NBA coach makes about $4 million, and other high-priced coaches include Boston’s Doc Rivers ($5.5 million), New York’s Mike D’Antoni ($6 million), Charlotte’s Larry Brown ($7 million) and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Phil Jackson ($10 million).
The Nuggets lead the Northwest Division at 35-18 and are second in the Western Conference behind the Lakers (41-13).
Karl mentioned the “window” of this season and next season for an NBA title. After 2011, Anthony could terminate his contract and become an unrestricted free agent, as could center Nene. Also, Kenyon Martin and J.R. Smith will have contracts expire that summer, and Billups has a team option in 2011-12.
As for Karl’s future after 2011 — and whether the two sides will negotiate another extension — much will hinge on how the Nuggets finish this season.
“I’m happy for George,” Billups said. “What he’s done as far as getting our team to play the way we play, he deserves it. Now he can just do what he does and try to get us this championship.”
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
