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Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:42 am EDT

Mike Krzyzewski: 'I will never leave Duke until I leave coaching'

By Chris Chase

As far as completely baseless rumors go, Mike Krzyzewski to the Lakers was a pretty good one. It never made sense on any level whatsoever, especially because the Lakers already, you know, have a coach, but that didn't stop the speculation from gaining traction in recent weeks. We can put an end to the speculation now.

In a strongly-worded statement which doesn't leave much room for parsing, Mike Krzyzewski told reporters yesterday that he never plans on leaving Duke University.

"I'm not going to the Lakers. They have one of the great coaches in the game. I don't know where that rumor started, but there has been nothing done like that, and I'm not leaving Duke. Whatever you hear about anything like that, I will never leave Duke until I leave coaching."

So I guess he wasn't able to bring ACC refs with him to the NBA then?

I kid. This is a good thing for all college basketball fans, not just the ones who root for Duke. Love him or hate him, Mike Krzyzewski is college basketball. He's sort of like the coaching version of Dick Vitale. I don't like them when they're around, but I'd miss them if they were gone. 

This wasn't the first time the K-to-Lakers has been mentioned. In 2004 the team offered Krzyzewski a five-year, $40 million deal (when L.A. had temporarily parted ways with Phil Jackson) but were rebuffed by the Duke coach. There were serious talks back then, but this time around never got past the rumor stage. Even if it did, there was never much chance that Coach K was actually going to accept that (or the previous) offer. He was like the married man who thinks about having a fling before realizing he's not that kind of guy.

And Mike Krzyzewski certainly isn't an NBA guy. Overachievers don't populate NBA rosters. Players don't respond well to coaching. And how could Coach K possibly intimidate officials when some of them are already getting strong-armed by the mob? 

So, floorslappers of the world, rejoice. Your leader will be back on the sideline next year in Durham. Not that he was ever going anywhere in the first place. 

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63 Comments

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  1. frogeater69
    1. Posted by frogeater69 Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:18 am EDT

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    Well, Duh! None of us thought he was holding out for North Carolina. What a useless headline. Go Jayhawks!
  2. cliffmasseyjr
    2. Posted by cliffmasseyjr Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:22 pm EDT

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    Coach K is awesome The Duke Blue Devils rock and I will die a Duke fan!
  3. bob r
    3. Posted by bob r Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Of course Coach K Y will never leave duke - he's got all his little boys wrapped around his finger - the most overrated coach in college basketball history. hasn't been able to win a title despite having allegedly top recruits - he's an old timer and the game has passed him by - time to hang 'em up Coach K-Y. He'd be a joke in the NBA because none of the pro players would listen to him - he's a control freak.
  4. CCCP
    4. Posted by CCCP Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

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    Cause he was a joke as the coach of the olympic team? You are a fool, bob r
  5. Orlando T
    5. Posted by Orlando T Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    Hey IDIOT !! Didn't he just coach the olympic team ? It was full of pro players !! Get your facts straight before you pop off about a great coach !
  6. orange
    6. Posted by orange Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    Coach K? Sounds like a rap artist.
  7. Ricky S
    7. Posted by Ricky S Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    bob r - I'm sure this is coming from someone who sucks at Basketball themselves, and the only real experience you have had with Coach K is through a video game. My guess is you are no older than 25 and have no real knowledge of College Basketball's History, let alone what Coach K has to do with it. CCCP is right on with his comment. I've been saying for the last 3 Olympics that Coach K should be the one to school these overpaid NBA thugs. He may not be a physical presence, but make no mistage about it, he has a way to grab anyones attention when coaching Basketball. Even all the players talked about it after they won Gold in Beijing.
    Get off your high horse bob r. Learn to deal with the fact that Coach K actually is good, or better yet, genius. You are as dumb as the media who thinks he'd actually consider leaving Duke.
  8. boots43
    8. Posted by boots43 Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    Yeah, Coach K would NEVER be successful with NBA players - hello? Do you remember the Redeem Team? I am pretty sure those were NBA players.
  9. unc23
    9. Posted by unc23 Wed Jul 01, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    I am a UNC fan for life and im going to stick up for coach K and say hes one of the best coaches of all time so bob r get a clue about life and basketball
  10. Colin R
    10. Posted by Colin R Wed Jul 01, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    Love the ACC refs comment, solid humor, Chase. I'm also not a big Coach K fan, but the guy deserves his due. He did a great job with the Olympic basketball team, although it may or may not have caused issues with his recruiting at Duke. The fact is he fields a competetive team in a very deep conference every year. Love the Dookies or hate 'em, Coach K is a very solid basketball coach.
    Colin R - Gofor2.net -- a much less successful, but equally judgmental sports blog
  11. johnny w
    11. Posted by johnny w Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:27 pm EDT

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    bob r u r a freakin IDIOT
  12. JasonH
    12. Posted by JasonH Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:30 pm EDT

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    To me Coach K along with another Coach K will always be adorned as college coaches....mostly because of their success and the systems they as their respective schools. Look at the past there hasnt been a true NBA star come from Duke or Indiana, which goes back to the team concepts that are taught by Knight and Krzyzewski. I would much rather have 5 guys functioning as one unit...(that is what they call a team) Hats off to both Coach K's
  13. John John
    13. Posted by John John Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:36 pm EDT

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    Best college coach EVER! In a time when college basketball is struggling to maintain it's staus, when coaches are going down for problems every other month, when the media is saying college ball is washed up, Coach K has stayed the course and stuck to his values. And in nearly 30 years with the same program, has never been in trouble with the NCAA, never been accused of any wrong doing, never strayed from his morals, his beliefs, and someone who cares more about the players, and their lives than any other before him (except maybe Wooden), no one is more of an icon in college basketball than Coach K. The most loved, respected, and also, the most despised coach in NCAA history. And why do so many hate'em, because he's so good!! Keep on coaching, Mike!!!! GO DUKE !!!!!
  14. John John
    14. Posted by John John Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:38 pm EDT

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    The pinnacle of basketball isn't the pros, it's winning. No one has won more than Coach K over their tenure. Some may have won more in shorter periods, but this guy gets it done. With less and less talent in college, it's harder and harder to do. But he still does it. He's done great things with avg. players.
  15. KimG
    15. Posted by KimG Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:08 pm EDT

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    Avg players...seriously? Yep, since Mark Alarie, Johnny Dawkins, Danny Ferry, Christian Laettner, Grant hill, Bobby Hurley, Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Jay Williams, Luol Deng. So what if a few don't move ahead to NBA all-timer status....dominance at the college level is still pretty darn good.
    those are better than average players, dunce. Yes he is great and has won titles and seemingly does it right...but does anyone at all remember Pete Gaudet and the lost season of 1994-1995 ?
  16. Robert K
    16. Posted by Robert K Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:20 pm EDT

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    #4 bob r is a pretty funny man (or a boy)
  17. Will W
    17. Posted by Will W Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

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    #4 Kobe listened to him. LeBron listened to him. Dwight Howard listened to him. NBA players think he's one of the top coaches in the history of coaching (which he is).
  18. Deb F.
    18. Posted by Deb F. Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    He's by far a very good coach. Too bad USC can't come up with a real deal - trade K. O'Neill for Coach K. SC fans would even consider renaming the Galen Center after Coach K. You'd think with all his success he'd be a little bored @ would be up for a new challenge! At least the weather is better in California. My advice to him is never say never.
  19. dula_l
    19. Posted by dula_l Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

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    bob r you are an idiot and you should stay off the pc until you are at least a teenager because you are a moron.
  20. Mobius
    20. Posted by Mobius Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:44 pm EDT

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    #14 - There is no "maybe" about John Wooden. He would spend the entire first practice making sure that the players were correctly fitted for and properly wearing their socks and shoes. What was good for the player was also good for the team.
  21. William
    21. Posted by William Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:41 pm EDT

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    I once thought Coach K was a honest coach. Then we got his buddy Quinn Snyder at Missouri . Quinn learned all that crooked stuff some where.
  22. william
    22. Posted by william Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:22 pm EDT

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    I have lived in durham the last 25 years .
    i love the duke basketball program......but coach k and duke F---ked
    pete gaudett and for that they should be held accountable!
    when u look at the faces of the duke players you don't see some 25yr old thug
    u see typical college aged basketball.player .not some street trash that can't spell their names
  23. mark
    23. Posted by mark Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    i kind of agree with bob r to a point. The guy gets one mcdonald's american oafter another then goes and plays a weak non confrence schedule and piles up the regular season wins. i wouldnt go as far as to say that he is a terrible coach but he is overrated. Jim Calhoun and Slick Rick are as good as him and they are never mentioned in the same breath. Throw Boheim in that category as well. As far as him being able to coach in the NBA i think he knows that its a different game and one he is not suited for.

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