George Karl, Nuggets Coach, Receives ESPY Award

George Karl, head coach of the Denver Nuggets, received a special award for his perseverance in his battle against cancer.

Head coach George Karl of the Denver Nuggets receives the ESPY Perseverance Award onstage during the 2010 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

George Karl, head coach of the Denver Nuggets, received a special award for his perseverance in his battle against cancer at the annual ESPY Awards on Wednesday night.

Karl – who received the Jimmy V Comeback Award – missed games and practices at the end of last season, according to CBS 4 Denver.

“I’ve gone through five months of treatment and I’m coming back,” Karl said.

This is Karl’s fourth battle with the disease, he said in his acceptance speech, expressing his gratitude for the “incredible” support he received from his family.

Karl’s son, Coby, has been through two bouts of thyroid cancer, Karl said.

During his speech, Karl pushed for a cure for cancer “in our lifetime,” not just treatments for the disease.

“Sometimes, I don’t think America is aware of cancer as much as they should be,” Karl said. “I think right now there is great teamwork to conquer this disease, but we need a national program to cure cancer, to defeat this disease.”

The Jimmy V Comeback Award is named after former North Carolina State basketball coach Jimmy Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993, according to CBS. Photo Caption(s) & Photo Location(s)