"I like Fitch," Karl said. "As a coach, he was intriguing to coach against early in my career. He had longevity."

After starting out in 10th place, Karl this season also has passed Dick Motta and Red Auerbach on the all-time list. But he has a long way to go to catch Charlotte's Larry Brown, sixth on the list with 1,052 wins.

"I think Larry will probably coach as long as I will," Karl, 58, said even though Brown, 69, is 11 years older.

--Nuggets coach George Karl never likes to see another NBA coach fired. Even though New Jersey was 0-16, Karl was still disappointed to have seen Lawrence Frank let go Sunday by the Nets.

"It's difficult," Karl said. "His hand was difficult with the injuries and the situation of losing an All-Star point guard (Devin Harris was injured at the start of the season) and coming into a season changing the roster."

The Nets have cleared large amounts of salary to have cap room next summer when many top players can become free agents.

"I think for the organization it's difficult for the organization being 0-16," Karl said.

But Karl did see one potential positive for Frank.

"I remember the first time I got fired, (Don Nelson) called me up and said, 'They just saved you about 25 losses (on his career record),'" Karl said.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We got what we deserved. That team ain't going to stop playing if they lost 15 straight. They're a professional basketball team. ... They ain't going to take the game off the schedule. They came in and they did what they had to do and they got a win. We should be embarrassed by it." --Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin, on his team's stunning 106-100 loss Sunday to Minnesota.