The Nuggets called a news conference for 7 p.m., at which time coach George Karl is expected to announce he is leaving the team for a period of time because of a medical condition.
A source close to Karl said he will miss time because of an illness, which the source did not specify.
Karl in the summer of 2005 underwent surgery for prostate cancer, but didn’t miss any time on the bench. At the time, Karl told The Denver Post: “You get scared. There are a lot of days you wake up and, instead of being excited about the day — and I’m an up kind of guy — you wake up worried and fearful. It’s not a good feeling.
“But the more people you talk to, the more it helps you keep your head. That’s how you beat this thing — keep your head and stay smart.â€
Karl’s son, Coby, was diagnosed with a thyroid cancer a year later, and it was successfully removed.
Over the weekend, the coach agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract extension with the Nuggets. Karl has coached the entire season, and was on the bench Sunday leading the Western Conference All-Stars.
In the past when Karl has missed games, assistant Adrian Dantley takes over.
The Nuggets begin the second half of the season on Thursday at Cleveland.
More updates coming at denverpost.com/sports