Duke Coach Krzyzewski in Talks with Lakers
 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Los Angeles Lakers (news) are in talks with Duke University's Mike Krzyzewski over the vacant job as head coach at the high-profile NBA team.

The Lakers said in a statement Thursday that general manager Mitch Kupchak had "contacted and had discussions with Mike Krzyzewski" about the position but declined to provide further details.


Duke University (in Durham, North Carolina) also confirmed talks had taken place with its college basketball coach, more popularly known as "Coach K," who has led the Blue Devils to three national championships in his 24-year tenure.



http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ba_lakers_dc_1

I don't think it will work. He's used to coaching guys who he has much mroe control over, since these are students, and they have to answer to a school.

If he tries to coach pros who don't like him system or team ethic, he might not be able to do the same things he could do at Durham....

Speaks volumes for college athletics...not really.

That is just all kinds of wrong. I agree with Stan -- I don't see him dealing with all the egos -- and I also can't see him in LA.

He gets a lot of money doing NCAA and not just from the school. The guy gets paid. The money would really have to be huge for him to switch. And it better be even more if he takes such a huge risk that he'll be a bad coach without the fame and book deals.

-Rudey

[Mr. Burns] Excellent [/Mr. Burns]

Word this morning is that he has been offered the job -- no confirmation though, and no answer.

As for egos, I'm not sure there's an NBA arena in the country big enough for all the NBA egos that Krzyzewski would have to deal with and Krzyzewski's own ego.

With VT and Miami officially becoming part of the ACC yesterday and Coach K possibly leaving, this has been a wonderful day for me. Go K go!

I really don't see coach "K" leaving Duke. but If he can make a successful transition from College Coach to a NBA Coach without a hitch, then God Bless Him. He's definately one of the best in the game.

I will be surprised if he takes it, but if he does, that will be yet another reason for me to hate the Lakers. :)

This would be a bad move. He would leave a dream job for a disistegrating team in LA. Then people would say that he was just another great college coach who couldn't make the transition to the pros, which wouldn't be fair.

Laker and Shaquille fan here
 

I'm finding all of this rather offensive because it seems that Kobester is the puppet master.

Yes, I know that Bryant's a great natural talent and he's only 25, etc. But on the other hand, he demonstrated absolutely horrid judgment in Eagle, Colo.

But I'm also annoyed at Shaq. He's not handled himself particularly well. I understand his feelings about the contract extension, because there's no way that Kevin Garnett should be making more money than him, especially since KG hasn't attained a title yet.

I think Coach K's reputation is safe - he really has little to risk by trying this (besides his sanity). He'd be getting $8 million a year, plus endorsements, etc. Jerry Tarkanian had horrible stints in the NBA, but if it weren't for the scandals at UNLV he'd still be remembered as a great college coach.

I agree though that it's not healthy to have Kobe running the show as far as choosing a new coach. He seems to have enough to worry about to be doing Mitch Kupchak's job for him.

Just a crazy situation to walk into...if anyone can do it I think it's Coach K.

I doubt Coach K will leave the program that he has worked so hard to build. I know he's involved in the community and does a lot with the school. I hope he doesn't leave...I love my Dukies!

On the other hand, his top recruit for the upcoming season and one of his best players were recently drafted in the NBA. Since the NBA is taking a lot of high school talent away from college programs, one could argue that he would leave for reasons that the talent in college ball isn't as high.

In any case, Duke is stable for him while the Lakers position wouldn't necessarily be...

This is what I was wondering myself. Everyone is talking about how college basketball is suffering from high school students going straight to the NBA and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Is it possible that Coach K will see this as an opportunity to leave the NCAA, whose programs may be going downhill?

What she said! I LOVE Coach K and my Duke Blue Devils!