via Getty
LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 29: Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson diagrams a play during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on November 29, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Phil Jackson
via Getty
LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 29: Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson diagrams a play during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on November 29, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2007 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Phil Jackson
The Los Angeles Lakers are considered to be one of the most elite franchises in the NBA. Being a part of that franchise in any shape or form should be an honor. However, there is one exception to this rule, and that’s coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Mike Krzyzewski is one of the more successful college basketball coaches. Although Mike never made it to the NBA, it doesn’t mean he was never offered the job. But isn’t it surprising for someone to turn down something like that? Yes, he did, and he probably had his reasons.
Can you imagine anybody else leading the Lakers to glory like Phil Jackson? Well, you can never be sure. Mike revealed that he was a potential successor to Phil Jackson as head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers years ago.
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Was Mike about to make his coaching debut in the NBA with the Lakers?
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Mike appeared on JJ Redick’s ‘The Old Man and the Three’ podcast and talked about coaching positions he attracted attention from in the NBA. Redick asked Mike, “How close were you to taking the Lakers job?”
“Closer than any other offer I ever had,” responded Mike. “Really in-depth, I’ve only entertained two NBA offers. One in 90 when Dave Gavitt was in control— I love Dave Gavitt. He’s one of the greatest men ever. And he took over the Celtics. And I always grew up with the Lakers and the Celtics, the two brands, and I didn’t take it. And then we won two national championships in the next two years.”
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Mike even revealed everything the Lakers were willing to offer him to get him on board. “I knew Kobe. And they were at my house and they offered me a lot of money. We were building the Emily Krzyzewski Center at that time, and they even offered to do the rest of the building for that.”
He said that he considered the offer when they left the house because this was “generational wealth.” Although Mike achieved a lot of success in college, the NBA is a whole other ball-game. Can you even imagine what the Lakers’ legacy might have been if they had hired Mike instead of Phil?
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