Former Team USA head coach and multiple-time NCAA title winner with the Duke Blue Devil, Mike Krzyzewski shared his true thoughts about the greatness of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, emphasizing how their greatness shone through every time they stepped on a basketball court.
“He (LeBron) and Kobe were the two guys I thought were just above everyone in preparation. Physical, mental, you name it. And when they were on the court, at a practice, or at a game, they wanted to be the best all the time. All the time. And they paid the price for it.”
Coach K’s comments came within the context of praising the incredible skill set that LeBron possesses, complimenting his intelligence, athleticism, leadership, and uncanny ability to prepare for hard situations.
“I noticed him when I started coaching him, how smart he was. You’re a little bit shocked at the athleticism and just this amazing athlete that’s there. And then you add intelligence,” Krzyzewski said. “Then, you add a command voice. Then you add leadership, and then you add something that a lot of people don’t have, and that’s the will to prepare to win. He’s just so damn prepared.”
Coach K made it clear that he doesn’t agree with anyone trying to hate LeBron and his abilities.
“For anyone who knocks LeBron in any way, they’re just crazy. Like, we’re not going to see anybody like him. He’s one of a kind.”
LeBron and Kobe are two pillars of 2000s basketball, with Kobe establishing his legacy as a possible top-five player of all time through his dominance over that decade. He won five titles and won every honor from league MVP to Finals MVP.
LeBron was emerging in the NBA as a star through that time, winning an MVP himself and making an NBA Finals, but still struggling on a below-average Cleveland Cavaliers squad. James would establish himself as an all-time great over the 2010s, but Kobe and LeBron ended the 2000s decade as good friends and the two faces of the NBA.
Coach K Helped LeBron James And Kobe Bryant Foster A Relationship
LeBron and Kobe built a brother-like bond over the late-2000s as the two top stars of the NBA. That relationship was forged through the 2008 and 2012 Olympic teams for Team USA, headed by Coach K.
Coach K, in 2021, told a story about how he had to mediate between the two stars after LeBron had a problem with Kobe’s shot selection during the 2008 Olympics.
“We’re gonna win and in the first half, Kobe started taking Kobe Laker shots, which they had not been doing all game… LeBron he looks at me and I know we got a real problem… I told him I would take care of this… So, we were up all night as a staff trying to figure out how to handle this and I said give me his shots on a computer and I’ll have an individual meeting with Kobe. So I’m really apprehensive about having this meeting but I gotta do it, I said I’d take care of it.”
Coach K would get Kobe to commit to a more team-friendly style to incorporate Team USA’s young stars like LeBron and Carmelo Anthony.
While everyone thought Kobe wouldn’t take the criticism well, he embraced what the respected Coach K had to say and altered his style to help the USA win Gold with James and Carmelo the featured players in 2008 and 2012.
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