Tag: Mike Krzyzewski

Mike Krzyzewski encourages Duke students to register to vote

Duke men’s basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski urged students to vote to help end systemic racism and social inequality in the U.S.

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Duke University men’s basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski on Thursday encouraged students on campus to register to vote to help end systemic racism and social inequality in the United States.

The speech by Krzyzewski came just one day after the Milwaukee Bucks opted to boycott Game 5 on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic following the shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old unarmed Black man, on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

“Systemic racism and social injustice are here,” Krzyzewski said. “In order to solve a problem, you have to acknowledge it. Today is for all of us to acknowledge this problem and to share our feelings.”

Krzyzewski said his players, along with the women’s basketball team and football team, would register to vote on Thursday following his speech and would have a better understanding of mail-in voting. He encouraged all students to register to vote in the election in November.

“I’m not telling you who to vote for but if we don’t get the proper leadership at every level of our country, this is not going to go away,” Krzyzewski said. “We can see the police brutality but what you don’t see is the amount of educational opportunities that are deprived of young Black kids, health and welfare opportunities [and] economic opportunities. These things can only be changed with proper leadership and organization. The first step in that is for all us to vote.”

Athletes from across all sporting leagues have used their platform to encourage younger fans to register to vote. Players in the NBA have worn “Vote” on their jerseys during the season restart and are hoping to implement a plan of action to help fans register to vote.

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Coach K says the NCAA needs to have an NCAA tournament

Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said that the NCAA needs to have a college basketball tournament this season on an ESPN show.

Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said that the NCAA needs to have a college basketball tournament this season on an ESPN appearance Tuesday. Here’s what the five-time national championship-winning coach said.

He also hinted at the necessity of a college basketball commissioner to handle issues like this.

“We’re the thing that the NCAA is most concerned about, because men’s college basketball produces 90 percent or more of the money for the NCAA, not college football or any other sport. So we need to have the tournament, we can’t have it where two years in a row you don’t have the NCAA Tournament. And guys, I think that’s where you should start. Make sure we have the tournament, doesn’t make any difference when it is because we don’t even know when the NBA season is going to be next year, so we should look at them and see how they navigate the waters going forward. They’ve navigated it really well with the bubble, and they don’t have the NBA, they have Adam Silver. And that’s what I’m saying we really need in college basketball.

Watch the full clip of Coach K’s appearance by clicking this link.

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A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Redick …

A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Redick couldn’t turn down an offer from coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski and was a four-year starter, averaging 19.9 points per game during his career. “I almost did go to UVA. Basically, Duke was my dream school. I had wanted to go there since I was 8 years old,” Redick said during his latest podcast episode with Tommy Alter. “As I was in high school and playing for Boo Williams, I realized UVA would be a great option, too. I took a couple campus tours, unofficial visits or whatever.”

“I get back to Virginia and I’m …

“I get back to Virginia and I’m supposed to go to Florida with my sister. My parents weren’t even going with me. It was their Midnight Madness. David Lee and I were friends. He was coming down from St. Louis. This weekend is going to be awesome. And then by like Tuesday night, I was like ‘man I don’t even want to go.’ The Duke thing was so heavy on me. So I was like ‘I’m just going to commit.’ I wanted to get the commitment out of the way and just enjoy the last two seasons of my high-school career so I committed that Wednesday to Duke. I got on the phone with Coach K and told him I was coming. If I had went to Gainesville, who knows?”

Jayson Tatum was reluctant about playing for Celtics

During an appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast released Monday, Tatum detailed how he was initially reluctant about the idea of playing for a talented Boston team after learning the Celtics had moved back to the No. 3 spot in the 2017 draft. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski helped coax him to visit the Celtics, who owned the No. 4 pick.

“So I get back to my hotel [in …

“So I get back to my hotel [in Phoenix], I’m about to fly back home for like two days before I go to New York [for the draft] and my agent called me and he’s like, ‘Danny Ainge called and said they’re going to trade their [No. 1] pick, they’re going to go to 3 and they want you to come to Boston the next day to work out,’” recalled Tatum. “I’m like, ‘No, I don’t want to go to Boston. I like it out here in Phoenix. It’s cool. The weather is nice. I get a big house, I get a pool, my mom is going to be out here.’ [Tatum’s agent was] like, ‘Brad Stevens is a great young coach and they have a great history.’ I’m like, ‘I’m not trying to hear that. I want to go to Phoenix.’”

Jayson Tatum: “My agent was like, ‘Just …

Jayson Tatum: “My agent was like, ‘Just think about it.’ So we hang up, I’m like, ‘I’m not going to this workout right now. I’m cool.’ But then Coach K called me right after my agent did and he was like, ‘Jayson, the Celtics called, they want you to come work out. I think Brad Stevens is a great coach and it’s a great place to be. You’ll learn a lot.’ So I’m like, ‘Ugh, all right. I’ll go.’”

76ers tried to hire Coach K

In an appearance on WIP sports radio in Philadelphia, Krzyzewski talked about his chances to coach in the pros and why he stayed with the Blue Devils. He also revealed that former player Billy King reached out to him in 2003, when King was G.M. of the 76ers and coach Larry Brown resigned. “I’ve been fortunate,” he said. “If you’re a successful coach or businessperson, you’re going to have opportunities. When professional opportunities occurred … I love Duke, in addition to college basketball. I love working at a university environment. You’re surrounded by great people, not just in sports. It has been proven to be pretty pure. It’s getting crazy now, but that was kind of (King) to even ask.”

Appearing on Philadelphia sports radio …

Appearing on Philadelphia sports radio WIP’s morning show, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked about Okafor’s struggles with the 76ers and was very open and frank in discussing them. “Jahlil is a youngster that had to go (to the NBA), because of the economics,” he said. “He was going to be a top-three pick. Jahlil is one of the really great kids I’ve had the opportunity to coach. He has a pure heart. Now away from that, Jahlil’s maturity … This doesn’t mean he’s immature. He needed to be part of a village longer.”