George Karl Unlikely To Return To Coaching Until Playoffs

When George Karl was first diagnosed with throat cancer, the Nuggets hoped he could return to coaching by early April, well before the start of the NBA Playoffs. However, new developments have caused the Nuggets to push back that timeframe until the beginning of the playoffs or possibly later.

Yahoo! Sports' Marc Spears reports. 

Karl recently needed treatment for blood clots in his legs and lungs that surfaced while he was already undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for throat cancer, the sources said. The blood clots were treated successfully and Karl is expected to complete his cancer treatment at the end of next week, but the Nuggets aren't confident he'll feel strong enough to resume coaching at the start of April as was initially hoped. 

Privately, Nuggets officials are concerned that Karl might not even be ready by playoff time, according to Howard Beck of the New York Times. Beck reports that the Nuggets are hoping Karl will be ready by the playoffs, but that a return is "far from certain."

If Karl cannot return by the postseason, it will mark the first time a playoff team began the playoffs without their head coach.