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Coach Krzyzewski is NOT going to the Lakers
During his reign at Duke, Mike Krzyzewski's teams have been ranked No. 1 in 12 seasons, including each of the last seven. He's also won three national titles.
Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has decided to remain at Duke, turning down the Los Angeles Lakers' lucrative contract offer.
After taking the weekend to mull the five-year, $40 million offer, Krzyzewski decided to remain at the school he has led for 24 years and to three NCAA tournament titles.
The school said Monday that Krzyzewski had informed the Lakers of his decision. An 5 p.m. news conference on campus was scheduled.
Krzyzewski had met with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak on Thursday to discuss the NBA team's coaching vacancy.
Duke officials had said they were open to modifying the lifetime contract Krzyzewski signed two years ago to improve it. It was not immediately clear whether any changes were made, though.
The Lakers had no immediate comment Monday on the decision by Krzyzewski.
The Lakers have been searching for a new head coach since June 18, when coach Phil Jackson stepped down three days after an NBA Finals loss to Detroit.
There were several incentives, beyond the financial, in place to lure Krzysewski to the Lakers, including Kobe Bryant's wish to play for Coach K.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Bryant told Krzyzewski just that last week. Some Duke basketball people were in a campus gym when Krzyzewski came in and told the group, "You'll never guess who called. Kobe Bryant. He wants me to come coach him."
Kenny Randolph, father of Duke forward Shavlik Randolph, said Krzyzewski told him in a phone call late Monday morning that he would stay in Durham.
"He just basically said the thing sort of ballooned out of proportion and that he appreciated our friendship and confidence, and that he'd remain at Duke," Randolph said. "And that's all that had to be said.
"I told him, 'Gosh, coach. I've got chill bumps.' And he said, 'I do, too.'"
The 57-year-old Krzyzewski has a 621-181 record in 24 seasons at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to championships in 1991, 1992 and 2001. Under Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils have 10 Final Four appearances, eight Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championships and 10 conference regular-season titles.
His Duke teams have been ranked No. 1 in 12 seasons, including each of the last seven.
Krzyzewski has had several flirtations with the NBA and has said he came close to leaving Duke in 1990 to coach the Boston Celtics.
Following the loss to the Pistons, the Lakers said Jackson wouldn't return. Jackson, who signed a five-year, $30 million contract with the Lakers in June 1999, guided them to championships in his first three seasons.
Former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich has been considered the front-runner to succeed Jackson. He has met with team owner Jerry Buss and Kupchak.
Former Lakers coach Pat Riley, an executive with the Miami Heat, also met with Buss and Kupchak, but issued a statement saying he wasn't a candidate.
Among others mentioned have been Kurt Rambis and Jim Cleamons, members of Jackson's staff.
Source: AP
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