Even in retirement at the age of 77, Mike Krzyzewski continues to offer valuable insights to a prominent NBA team.
According to a report by Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic on Tuesday, Coach K has emerged as a highly respected informal advisor for the Los Angeles Lakers during their search for a new head coach. Charania emphasizes that Krzyzewski possesses extensive knowledge about potential candidates and maintains a longstanding relationship with the Lakers dating back to 2004 when the late owner Dr. Jerry Buss made an unsuccessful attempt to hire him as the head coach.
Krzyzewski retired in 2022 following a remarkable career as the head coach at Duke University, spanning over four decades. However, his connections within the professional basketball realm remain robust, particularly due to his tenure as the head coach of USA Basketball during the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games. During these stints, he coached and secured gold medals with current Lakers players such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis, as well as former Lakers including Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard.
Furthermore, after retiring from coaching, Coach K assumed a role in the NBA league office. His association with the Lakers is further bolstered by the fact that the frontrunner for their head coaching position reportedly happens to be one of Krzyzewski’s former Duke players.
