It was understandable. One of the eight players working out was Karl's son, Coby.

"My opinion of him as a player is tainted," George Karl said. "I think he's pretty good, as all fathers think his kid's better than he really is, always wants the best for him, always wants the best situation, always wants the coach to run every play for him."

George Karl called Wednesday "a proud moment," for him as a father. And not just because his son was working out for an NBA franchise.

Coby Karl had successful surgery to treat thyroid cancer March 20, and less than a month ago underwent radiation treatment as part of his recovery. After taking time off due to the radiation treatment, Coby Karl began working out hard only about 10 days ago.

"To come through what he has in his career, and to overcome cancer and go through the surgery and the radiation, he has shown he's a man," said George Karl, who had surgery to treat prostate cancer last summer.

Coby Karl, a 6-foot-4, 204-pound guard just finished his junior year at Boise State. He led the Broncos in scoring (17.2 points per game), assists (4.0) and minutes (33.6) and was named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association District VII Team.

Wednesday's session was his first official pre-draft workout with an NBA team. He was scheduled to leave for Los Angeles on Wednesday night and work out for the Clippers Thursday. He then is expected to go to Sacramento for a Friday workout with the Kings and then perhaps Washington for a workout with the Wizards on Monday.

Tuesday, he will begin the NBA's five-day Pre-Draft Camp in Orlando, Fla. The camp invites top draft prospects to work out and be evaluated by NBA coaches, general managers, scouts and front office executives.

That camp should give Coby Karl a good idea of where he stands.

After he was diagnosed with cancer, he and his father decided he should declare for the NBA draft and see where he might be selected before deciding whether or not to return to Boise State for his senior year. Coby Karl said he was unsure what his decision would be at this point.

"I'm just keeping my eyes open, putting my feelers out and just enjoying the moment," he said. "Anything's possible."

His father, however, would prefer Coby heads back to Boise for his senior season.

"It's a win-win either way," George Karl said. "My gut says I'd like him to go back because I think the system is messed up. I think we should have a system where kids go to college. ... I think he knows I lean for him to be a student-athlete."

George Karl said his son "plays a lot like (San Antonio's) Brent Barry, a little bit like (Golden State's) Mike Dunleavy." He said his son's "best NBA asset" is his passing.

"His ability to see the floor, read the floor, understand where the ball should be and he gets it there early, which in the NBA is a lost art," George Karl said. "He's a good shooter, he could become a great shooter. Liabilities is probably he could be pressured. He's a good ball-handler but with pressure he becomes a conservative ball-handler."

When asked what traits his son shares with him as a player, George Karl said: "Competitive. He's a winner. He plays the game to win. He plays the game to compete. He plays the game for the team."

Coby Karl said he would want to play for his father, and George Karl said he would love to coach his son. The Nuggets have the 49th pick in the draft. George Karl was asked if he would take his son if he had the chance.

"I would take him," the coach said. "But I'm not going to pull the trigger."