Damian Lillard, Terry Stotts Respond to George Karl's Comments on Blazers Star

Former NBA coach George Karl continues to make headlines for verbally attacking current players, including Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard:

Karl was discussing what has troubled the 14-20 Trail Blazers this season, but Lillard's coach, Terry Stotts, defended his playmaker Wednesday, per Casey Holdahl of the team's official website:

Lillard also responded on his Twitter page and hinted that Karl is still trying to remain relevant ever since the Sacramento Kings fired him after he posted a 44-68 mark from 2015 to 2016 with the franchise:

"I'm confused at how that even came up," Lillard added on Thursday, per Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com. "I've never met him or spoken to him. I don't have anything to say about him or the situation, but I'm comfortable knowing the people I work with every day know exactly who I am and how I operate."

Lillard's agent, Aaron Goodwin, reacted to Karl's critical words and said the former coach "sounds like an idiot," per Chris Haynes of ESPN.com:

Karl's criticism of Lillard came in an interview with David Marchese of New York magazine. "My conclusion is that Damian Lillard is getting too much attention," Karl said when asked what is wrong with Portland after reaching the second round of the playoffs last season.

Lillard is far from the first player to draw Karl's ire, although Marc J. Spears and Marc Stein of ESPN.com recently reported the coach's book, Furious George, will not have as many disparaging passages about the Kings as initially thought because of his contract settlement.

Karl—who coached the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets and Kings and finished with a 1,175-824 record—called former Nuggets Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin "spoiled brats," per the New York Post's Marc Berman.

Karl also said Anthony and Martin had troublesome attitudes in part due to the absence of their fathers.

"I just hope he finds happiness in what he's doing," Anthony said when discussing Karl's book, per Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.

Smith and Martin each fired back at their former coach on Twitter.

As for Lillard, it is hard to criticize him for much more than his team's record. He is one of the best point guards in a league loaded with difference-makers at the position and is averaging 27.0 points, 6.2 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this season.

The 2012-13 Rookie of the Year is a two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA player. He is just 26 years old with a bright future ahead of him.