Image Source: Twitter
[Saba Sports News] At 77 years old and retired, Mike Krzyzewski is still offering valuable input to a major NBA team. Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that Coach K has become a “respected unofficial resource” for the Los Angeles Lakers in their head-coaching search. Charania noted Coach K’s “deep knowledge” of candidates and his longstanding relationship with the Lakers, dating back to 2004 when the late owner Dr. Jerry Buss attempted to hire him as head coach.
Coach K retired in 2022 after a distinguished career at Duke University, spanning over four decades. His strong connections to the pro basketball world stem from his tenure as head coach of USA Basketball during the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games, where he coached and won gold with current Lakers like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as well as former Lakers like Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.
Additionally, Coach K joined the NBA league office after retiring from coaching. The reported frontrunner for the Lakers’ head coaching job is one of Coach K’s former Duke players, further highlighting his influence.