Coach K's last college game??? Exit duke for NJ????

[LutherRackleyRulez]

Per North Jersey.com.......


Source: Nets ready to make Mike Krzyzewski a big offer

WASHINGTON — Mike Krzyzewski remains the Nets’ top choice to be their next head coach.

Incoming billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov is prepared to make Krzyzewski an offer that would be difficult to refuse, league sources said.

Krzyzewski turned down a five-year, $40 million offer to coach Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in 2004. The Nets’ offer likely will be between $12 million and $15 million per season for Krzyzewski to be their coach and perhaps general manager, a source said.

If Prokhorov gets his way this off-season, Krzyzewski could be coaching his final game for Duke tonight when the Blue Devils face Butler for the NCAA championship.





http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/basketball/040510_Source_Nets_ready_to_make_Mike_Krzyzewski_a _big_offer.html

[Titanxman04]

If that happened, I may quit college hoops all together.

But honestly, why would Coach K reject the Lakers and then take up the Nets? Don't think it's going to happen. Though, it's not like I know the guy. 12 Million a year is tough to turn down.

[Muskie1000]

ok 12 million a year is tough to turn down, however, college BB and NBA are 2 different creatures. He wants and enjoys being the big Cheese, in NBA you have all of those egos to deal with and I'm sure he got his fill of that during the Olympics. I would seriously be surprised if he ever made a jump to the NBA. Being a great college coach does not always translate to a great NBA coach.

[dc_x]

Did anyone else watch the 60 Minutes on the Nets new Russian owner? It's pretty safe to say that things are going to be interesting with the Nets over the next few years with that guy in charge.

[GoMuskies]

If that happened, I may quit college hoops all together.



Why? K has given Duke almost 30 years. Maybe he'd like to take one shot at something new while getting obscenely rich in the process. He's 63, so his window to do something like this is closing, and he probably feels pretty confident about his ability to manage NBA players after the Olympics.

[boozehound]

I'll take a bit of a different angle -- Why would the Nets want Coach K that much? $12MM?

I don't see how coaching at Duke translates to the NBA. Duke teams play great college basketball. Many of the great Duke teams have been built on solid fundamentals, high basketball IQ, and discipline. It seems like a big departure from the NBA style of play, at least to my eyes. Coach K also hasn't really had to deal with the egomaniacs with grade-school IQ's that populate the NBA. I think he is a great coach, but I just don't know if this is an example of a great college coach that will be good in the NBA.

If I was going to pluck a coach out college to go to the NBA I would be more interested in a John Calipari type of guy. His teams play more of an NBA style of ball and he has coached multiple lottery picks. He would probably be pretty willing to leave UK before the sanctions start hitting so you have a good shot at getting him, too!

[GoMuskies]

If I was going to pluck a coach out college to go to the NBA I would be more interested in a John Calipari type of guy.

The Nets already went that route. Calipari was a disaster.

[boozehound]

Yeah, I forgot about that. He was probably a pretty poor example.

[GoMuskies]

Yeah, I forgot about that. He was probably a pretty poor example.

I did a little Google searching to find out just how bad the Calipari era was in NJ (72-112), and I found several articles noting that the Nets were interested in bringing Calipari back as head coach. So apparently they have forgotten as well.

[dhaarman3]

No Way! He will never leave DUKE!

[chico]

Who is the last college coach to make a successful jump? I mean, if Tark the Shark can't make the jump I don't know who can.

[SixFig]

The way Duke wins at the iZod Center (bad bad memories) maybe the Nets should hire him right away.

[X-band '01]

It must be time for Coach K to get his annual raise at Duke - I wouldn't be surprised if someone in his inner circle leaked his name as a candidate in order to get a raise at Duke. I'm not sure he'd take the Nets job considering he's had "offers" from teams like the Lakers and Celtics in the past.

If this is his last game at Duke, it will be because he's finally ready to retire or there's a better NBA gig that will open up this summer. He ain't going to Jersey.

[LutherRackleyRulez]

Per ESPN.....


Krzyzewski: Nyet to Nets

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told ESPN.com Monday morning that "I wouldn't have any interest in the job," even if incoming New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov offers to make him the highest-paid coach in the NBA.

The Bergen (N.J.) Record reported Monday that Prokhorov, despite Krzyzewski's earlier public expressions of disinterest, has continued to target Coach K as his No. 1 choice to coach the Nets once the NBA's Board of Governors approves his purchase of the majority ownership of the franchise from Bruce Ratner.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson is currently the NBA's highest-paid coach with a $12 million salary, and the Record said Prokhorov might be willing to offer Krzyzewski in the range of $12 million to $15 million annually.

"I haven't been contacted," Krzyzewski said as he rode the team bus to Duke's shootaround in preparation for Monday night's NCAA championship game against Butler in Indianapolis. "I wouldn't have any interest in the job. You would be flattered if someone would offer you a job, but I would not be interested."




http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2010/news/story?id=5056964

[XU05and07]

Per ESPN.....


Krzyzewski: Nyet to Nets

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told ESPN.com Monday morning that "I wouldn't have any interest in the job," even if incoming New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov offers to make him the highest-paid coach in the NBA.

The Bergen (N.J.) Record reported Monday that Prokhorov, despite Krzyzewski's earlier public expressions of disinterest, has continued to target Coach K as his No. 1 choice to coach the Nets once the NBA's Board of Governors approves his purchase of the majority ownership of the franchise from Bruce Ratner.

Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson is currently the NBA's highest-paid coach with a $12 million salary, and the Record said Prokhorov might be willing to offer Krzyzewski in the range of $12 million to $15 million annually.

"I haven't been contacted," Krzyzewski said as he rode the team bus to Duke's shootaround in preparation for Monday night's NCAA championship game against Butler in Indianapolis. "I wouldn't have any interest in the job. You would be flattered if someone would offer you a job, but I would not be interested."




http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2010/news/story?id=5056964






If we have learned anything...what any college coach says doesn't mean jack until the next season starts and he is right there in camp with his players

[Drew's Crew]

If this is his last game at Duke, it will be because he's finally ready to retire or there's a better NBA gig that will open up this summer. He ain't going to Jersey.

Ummm.....maybe because he could potentially be offered 15 MILLION DOLLARS.....


Oh, and if he doesn't succeed, he is still guaranteed all of the money AND he can come back and be the highest paid college coach in the country.

I would understand if he didn't do it, but to say that there is only one reason why he would is pretty presumptuous.

[pizza delivery]

Knowing the track record for college coaches in the NBA, why would you waste that much money on K? Plus bring in all those FA's?

[LyonsIsFlyin]

Ummm.....maybe because he could potentially be offered 15 MILLION DOLLARS.....


Oh, and if he doesn't succeed, he is still guaranteed all of the money AND he can come back and be the highest paid college coach in the country.

I would understand if he didn't do it, but to say that there is only one reason why he would is pretty presumptuous.

Don't get me wrong, 15 mil is 15 mil, anyone on this board and 99% of people in this world would do just about anything for a career for 15 mil a year.... that said, I believe Coach K is in that 1% that'd turn it down. Take Miller. When he left for money it was because he wasn't already a made man. Coach K is the definition of made man in college hoops. He is literally a god at Duke and gets whatever it is he wants along with making millions.

I think he might have taken it if he wasn't already the Olympic team's head guy where he is coaching NBA legends while still getting to be at Duke.