Mike Krzyzewski Not Interested in Replacing Phil Jackson

Once Phil hangs up his clipboard at season’s end, Coach K says that Lakers fans shouldn’t expect him to begin stalking the sideline at Staples Center. From ESPN: “Krzyzewski said Wednesday his answer would be the same if the Lakers, who could be in the market for a head coach if Jackson goes through with his plan to retire after the season, decided to call him again. ‘I’ve never thought of ever leaving Duke for another school but there were three serious times where I almost left to go to the pros,’ Krzyzewski said. ‘One was when Dave Gavitt took over the Celtics [in 1990], another was with the Trailblazers [in 1994] and the one that I took to a really far level was the Lakers situation. They were great with me. I just could not give up what I’ve done and gotten at Duke. It just wasn’t worth it.’ Krzyzewski, who has won four national titles at Duke, was reportedly offered a five-year, $40 million deal after Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak met with him around the time of the 2004 NBA draft. Kupchak would later fly to meet Krzyzewski in North Carolina while Kobe Bryant reportedly tried to recruit Krzyzewski to come to the Lakers over the phone.”