Tar Heel royalty will be on full display at this year’s Naismith Hall of Fame induction ceremony. UNC alumnus and former NBA head coach George Karl is among the Hall’s Class of 2022, and Karl will have some special guests present him at the ceremony: former UNC head coach Roy Williams (a part of the Hall’s Class of 2007) and former Tar Heel star Bobby Jones (Class of 2019).

Karl played at Carolina under head coach Dean Smith from 1970 through 1973, and was named second team All-ACC twice and first team All-ACC his senior year. He and Jones were teammates in 1971-72 and 1972-73. Karl was eventually drafted by the New York Knicks, but made his mark on the NBA as a longtime head coach.

Karl spent time as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. His most successful stint came in Seattle, when he led the Sonics to the NBA Finals in 1996. There, Karl’s Seattle team fought hard against the legendary 72-10 Chicago Bulls (led by their own UNC Hall of Famer), but fell in six games.

Karl is the 12th UNC alumnus to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame, and joins an elite list of honorees inducted as coaches: Smith, Williams, Frank McGuire, Larry Brown and Ben Carnevale.

At the induction ceremony, Williams, Jones and former Sonics player Gary Payton will each accompany Karl up to the stage, where he will address the crowd. The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 10.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Chansky's Notebook: He of the Floppy Sox
George Karl is ready for his day as UNC’s 12th Hall of Famer. Karl will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame Saturday night in Springfield, presented by other Tar Heel legends Bobby Jones and Roy Williams, and it will be for his NBA coaching career with six teams that yielded 1,997 regular-season and […]
READ: Hubert Davis Talks Pressure at UNC, Caleb Wilson, Luka Bogavac and More
UNC men’s basketball head coach Hubert Davis met with the media for the first time since the end of the 2024-25 season Tuesday at the Dean Smith Center. Davis discussed multiple topics, including pressure to win this season and star freshman Caleb Wilson. Read some of Davis’ answers below, which have been lightly edited for […]
Roy Williams to Receive North Carolina Award for Public Service
Former UNC men’s basketball head coach Roy Williams was named as one of six winners of the North Carolina Award earlier this week. Governor Josh Stein will present the award to Williams and the other five honorees Thursday, November 13 at the historic Grove Park Inn in Asheville. The ceremony is normally held in Raleigh, […]
Chansky's Notebook: Similarities?
Art Chansky compares the situations of UNC head coaches Bill Belichick and Hubert Davis, noting expectations are high for both.
UNC Men's Basketball Finalizes Roster, Jersey Numbers for 2025-26 Season
Head coach Hubert Davis and the UNC men’s basketball program have finalized the team’s roster and jersey numbers ahead of the 2025-26 season. The Tar Heels bring in numerous newcomers between freshmen and transfers after losing all five of their year-end starters from the 2024-25 season. The squad is set ‼️ 🔗 https://t.co/58XUN10ZNl pic.twitter.com/GvWO19lPgH — […]
Chansky's Notebook: Pro Prospects
Former UNC stars R.J. Davis and Caleb Love are both trying to earn their way into the NBA, where the pair have signed two-way contracts.
UNC's Tyler Hansbrough to Deliver Keynote Address at New Student Convocation
UNC men's basketball legend Tyler Hansbrough will deliver the keynote address at the university's New Student Convocation later this month.
Chansky's Notebook: 5 and 75
Art Chansky celebrates the legacy of former UNC men's basketball head coach Roy Williams, who turned 75 last Friday.
High Point Transfer Ivan Matlekovic Commits to UNC Men's Basketball
Head coach Hubert Davis earned a late commitment out of the transfer portal Thursday night, as High Point forward Ivan Matlekovic committed to Davis and the Tar Heels. NEWS: North Carolina has landed a commitment from 6-foot-11 High Point transfer Ivan Matlekovic, his agents @WEAVE tell @On3sports. The Croatian big man adds frontcourt depth for […]
Here's a List of Every Transfer to Join the UNC Men's Basketball Program This Offseason (2025)
Several transfers have announced their intentions to join head coach Hubert Davis and UNC next season. Here’s a list of those incoming players: Ivan Matlekovic – High Point A seven-footer originally from Croatia, Matlekovic played in just five games during his only season with High Point. He joined the Tar Heels late in the offseason, […]
›