Mike Krzyzewski is one of America’s top teachers. His classroom just happens to be a 94-foot stretch of hardwood with a hoop at each end.
Yet, as successful as Duke’s Hall of Fame basketball coach has been — 833 wins, 10 Final Fours, three national championships and, now, Olympic gold — he remains a student.
That is how it is with the best among us: they strive to know all they can, but never claim to know it all.
So while Krzyzewski cherishes the personal relationships he built as Team USA head coach, saying the bonds “will last forever,” he embraced the three-year journey to the medal stand in Beijing as “a chance to learn about the game.”
He kept his eyes and ears open while working with assistant coaches Jim Boeheim, Mike D’Antoni and Nate McMillan, as well as a team of NBA superstars.
“You see how they prepare and you get their insights,” Krzyzewski said.
He brings first-hand knowledge of what the world’s best players are really like. Krzyzewski worked three summers with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, et al, marveling at the time and effort they invested.
“I never had one second of problem with any of them. They truly are professionals,” Krzyzewski said. “It’s the way they conduct themselves and practice. It’s also what they do when you’re not practicing.”
“People would be shocked at how hard they work away from practice. Early in the morning, after practice, late at night. They may have one or two workouts they do every day in addition to practice to keep themselves prepared.”
