Coach Mike Krzyzewski has a special bond with Kobe Bryant.
These are two men who bring something special to the basketball court, and part of that is a fighting spirit. They were friends before, but that bond grew during the Olympics when for a few years (particularly in Beijing in 2008) it was Kobe’s team, and guys such as LeBron James and Dwyane Wade learned about the dedication needed to win from him.
The Duke head coach was on Time Warner Sportsnet in Los Angeles Friday (that’s the Lakers’ high paying cable channel) and heaped praise upon Kobe. Ryan Ward of the Lakers Nation saw it and passed along the highlights.
Coach K on Kobe via @TWCSportsNet "From all the players in high school that I've seen, I thought Kobe, as a HS player, was the best player."
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) September 18, 2015
Coach K on Kobe: "He hurt the other team, not just in what he was doing physically, but his mere presence.” via @TWCSportsNet
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) September 18, 2015
Coach K on Kobe Bryant: "You believed you were supposed to lose to this guy.” via @TWCSportsNet #Lakers
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) September 18, 2015
Coach K: "It reminded me of so much of [Michael] Jordan, but I didn't see Jordan in HS. Jordan wasn't like that in HS when I saw him...
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) September 18, 2015
"...the way MJ was all the time as a pro, even a young pro, & really how Michael conducted himself at UNC. Kobe & him, it was very similar."
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) September 18, 2015
Coach K on Kobe “..a lot of times he'll tell you, 'I'm ready to do this' before you even say it because he's so darn smart. He's brilliant."
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) September 18, 2015
Krzyzewski also believes this will not be Kobe’s last season, that if Kobe is healthy he will continue playing. That is certainly possible, although there are few superstars who have ever been better prepared for life after basketball than Kobe. When he leaves, he will leave, there will be no Jordan with the Wizards moment.
What Coach K talks about is something I have mentioned before and will say a lot this season — about Kobe, about Tim Duncan, about Kevin Garnett — we need to savor watching these guys. A great generation of players, some of the best of all time and groundbreakers, are about to hang up their high tops. (Yes, I know Kobe wears low tops now.) Watching what Kobe, Duncan and KG do is special, and if you’re a fan of the game soak it up now while you still can, because soon it will be gone.
