NBA legend George Karl says the league should learn lessons from Trump's election victory

Legendary NBA head coach George Charles called on the league to take a page from last week’s election results, in which President-elect Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris.

Karl wrote on X on Monday that as American voters sought change in their leadership in the White House and in Congress, the NBA must start weighing the changes it needs to make when it comes to the product on the track.

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Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl calls a timeout in the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix on April 11, 2016. (Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports)

“Feelings about Trump aside, last week’s election was a statement about change,” he wrote. “The league I love and helped build, the NBA, needs to recognize the same.

“Fans tell me every day that the games are unwatchable. Entertainment has surpassed sports. The NBA must listen and respond.”

Karl’s complaint about the league is one that the league has been dealing with for years. Injury management, where players rest during back-to-backs or decide to sit out the long run of the regular season, was the antithesis of what fans saw in the 1980s and 1990s.

LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, left, talks with former Seattle Supersonics head coaches George Karl, center, and Nate McMillan before a game against the Utah Jazz at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Oct. 10, 2023. (Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports)

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The NBA has tried to control some of its stars with rules on how end-of-season awards are handed out.

A player must participate in a minimum of 65 games to be eligible for the MVP and All-NBA teams. Essentially, this will impact players’ bottom lines as they can qualify for supermax contracts if they earn certain awards.

ESPN noted in January, star players missed an average of 10.4 games per season in the 1980s, and in the 1990s, star players missed an average of 10.6 games per season. The number has reportedly increased this decade to an average of 23.9 missed games per season.

The NBA states in a report that injury management does not necessarily reduce the risk of long-term injuries.

Legendary NBA head coach George Karl called on the league to take a page from last week’s election results, when President-elect Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris. (AP/Evan Vucci)

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The league and its players will have to come up with a solution as the power of the superstars, who would normally draw attention to regular season games, is diminishing, while players are eager to Le Bron JamesKevin Durant and Steph Curry are entering the twilight of their historic careers.

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Ryan Gaydos is editor-in-chief for Fox News Digital.