During his NBA playing and coaching career, George Karl was known for speaking his mind. He’s feuded with NBA stars including Kenyon Martin and DeMarcus Cousins, and once snubbed the great Michael Jordan at a restaurant during the 1996 NBA Finals.
Even the title of Karl’s autobiography, “Furious George: My Forty Years Surviving NBA Divas, Clueless GMs, and Poor Shot Selection,” indicates he was never reticent about expressing himself.
Karl will showcase that vibrant personality in his new role as an exclusive betting endorser of the BetRivers brand. The parent company Rush Street Interactive announced Wednesday that Karl, who won 1,175 games over 27 NBA seasons, will serve as a brand ambassador and spokesperson for its Bet with a Winner campaign.
“My philosophy to coaching and life has always been about being truthful, honest, and real,” said Karl, the NBA’s Coach of the Year in 2013, in a news release. “RSI and BetRivers are developing real and meaningful relationships with their players and I’m looking forward to helping strengthen those ties through this partnership.”
“George Karl was successful at every level of the sport,” said Richard Schwartz, president of RSI, in a press release, “and we’re excited for him to bring his enthusiasm and knowledge to the sports betting arena here at BetRivers.com.”
Born in 1951 in Penn Hills, just outside of Pittsburgh, Karl played college basketball at North Carolina under the legendary coach Dean Smith. Karl made the All-ACC team three years in a row and was a fourth-round draft pick on the New York Knicks in 1973.
Karl began his coaching career with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1984 and coached 1,999 games for six teams. His teams made the playoffs 22 times in 27 seasons and led the Seattle SuperSonics to the 1996 NBA Finals.
RSI provides omnichannel platforms for land-based sportsbooks at Rivers Casinos Pittsburgh, Rivers Casino Philadelphia, Rivers Casino Schenectady, Rivers Casino Des Plaines, and French Lick Casino in Indiana. In December 2020, RSI announced a deal with Century Casinos to launch its online casino in West Virginia starting in the second quarter of 2021.
Karl is currently the co-owner of Truth+Media, a company that develops sports and leadership content, including The Truth+ podcasts.
