Mike Krzyzewski is headed to the NBA, and not in the way many imagined a decade or two ago.
Former Duke men's basketball coach is joining the league as special advisor for basketball operations, The NBA announced on Wednesday, In the new role, Krzyzewski will reportedly provide “consultation to the league office, NBA team executives and other league leaders on a range of sports-related issues.”
The 76-year-old coach will make his debut next week at the NBA General Managers' Meeting in Chicago.
From NBA:
“We are honored to add Coach Kay to the NBA family and share his vast experience and expertise with the league and our teams,” said NBA President, League Operations Byron Spruell. “As a head coach and renowned leader who cares deeply about the game of basketball, he is uniquely suited to drive discussions and provide insight about the present and future of the NBA.”
“This is a great opportunity to deepen my relationship with the NBA and participate in the conversation about further strengthening the league and the game,” Krzyzewski said. “Even after my retirement from coaching, my passion for the game has never been greater. This role will enable me to continue to engage with basketball at the highest level.”
Adding Krzyzewski to the league office probably wasn't a tough sell for NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who attended Duke as an undergraduate. For all we know, he is the one who pushed for it.
It also makes sense that Krzyzewski would probably have more ties to today's NBA players than any other current or former college coaches given Duke's reputation as an NBA factory over the past decade and the three Olympics he has coached for the US. spent coaching the national basketball team.
Krzyzewski retired last season after spending 47 years at Duke, where he became the all-time college basketball winner with 1,202. During his time there, he won five national championships, 13 ACC tournaments and had 73 players drafted by the NBA. according to duke,
During that tenure, Krzyzewski was Reportedly targeted multiple times by NBA teams with head coaching vacancies, Including the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves.