NBA-National Basketball Association roundup

Dec 22 (The Sports Xchange) - Former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl takes aim at New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and others in his upcoming book "Furious George," calling Anthony a "conundrum" and a "user of people" during their time together. Anthony, who spent his first 7 1/2 seasons with the Nuggets -- including 6 1/2 under Karl's direction from 2005 until early 2011, was "addicted to the spotlight and very unhappy when he had to share it," according to Karl. "Carmelo was a true conundrum for me in the six years I had him," Karl wrote, via the New York Post. "He was the best offensive player I ever coached... "He really lit my fuse with his low demand of himself on defense. He had no commitment to the hard, dirty work of stopping the other guy." Karl spent 27 seasons on NBA sidelines coaching the Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings and compiled a 1,175-824 career record as a head coach. -- By the end of the year and possibly as early as Christmas Day, the NBA is expected to officially have labor peace. The deal was agreed to last week and voting is being conducted to get it on the record. The player's union is completing their ratification electronically and could be finished Friday. The deal keeps the labor peace for at least the next six seasons and both sides will have the ability to opt-out after the 2022-23 season. -- Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green missed Thursday's game against the Brooklyn Nets due to the birth of his son. According to the Warriors, Draymond Jamal Green Jr. was born in the wee hours of Thursday in the Bay Area. Green's status for games in Detroit on Friday and Cleveland on Sunday will be determined later. The Christmas Day contest against the Cavaliers is a rematch of last season's NBA Finals, won in seven games by Cleveland. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))