George Karl may have one of the most unfiltered Twitter accounts in the basketball world, but according to the man himself, he’s never sent a single tweet.
In a recent interview with Jason Quick of The Athletic, the former NBA head coach made a surprising revelation: despite his active presence on X (formerly Twitter), he has never personally posted from his own account.
“I’ve gone on Twitter to find out what somebody said, but I’ve never, ever wrote anything. I’ve never done that my whole life, but I know it’s out there.”
That statement is jarring when you consider just how active, and at times controversial, his official account has been over the years. From feuding with players to listing his top 10 greatest of all time, George Karl’s X account has regularly gone viral.
Yet, if Karl is to be believed, the man behind the tweets has never been Karl himself.
This revelation raises a fascinating question about authenticity in the age of social media.
For years, fans and media have taken his posts as direct commentary from the man who once coached the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Seattle SuperSonics. But apparently, someone else, whether it be a PR team, assistant, or social media manager, has been running the show the whole time.
It also throws fresh light on some of his most contentious takes. For example, Karl’s recent “Top 10 Greatest Players of All Time” list sparked considerable backlash.
The list notably excluded Wilt Chamberlain and Stephen Curry, two generational talents most fans believe belong in any serious top 10 discussion. Instead, Karl included Julius Erving and Nikola Jokic, with Jokic cracking the list at the expense of Hakeem Olajuwon.
That tweet stirred plenty of reactions, especially among Golden State Warriors fans who consider Curry the greatest point guard in NBA history. The omission of Chamberlain, often regarded as the most dominant scorer in league history, was equally puzzling. If Karl didn’t write that tweet, it begs the question: does he even agree with it?
It’s not just basketball takes, either. Karl’s account has touched on politics, including a call for Michael Jordan to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. He’s also used it to both criticize and praise former players like Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, adding to the mystery of who is actually crafting these opinions.
Interestingly, Karl has a long history of being outspoken in person. He’s authored a controversial book, clashed with stars during his coaching days, and always carried the reputation of a blunt straight-shooter. That’s why many fans never doubted that the tweets were his until now.
Whether fans feel duped or amused, Karl’s admission offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how public figures navigate their online personas.
In an era where authenticity is prized, the revelation that a famously fiery figure hasn’t authored his own fiery tweets is both ironic and fascinating.
