Legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski (left), aka Coach K, and NBA superstar LeBron James (right)
David Rubenstein (DR) / Pierre Haessig

Although he never coached an NBA bench, Mike Krzyzewski had the opportunity to coach LeBron James during his tenure as Team USA coach. It was a memorable experience that he reflected on with honesty.

With 42 consecutive seasons spent on the bench of the prestigious Duke University, he is one of the most legendary coaches in the history of American basketball.

It must be said that Mike Krzyzewski has five university titles and 13 appearances in the Final Four, an NCAA record.

A list of achievements that he also expanded with the US selection, in which he was notably able to rub shoulders with a certain LeBron James .

Mike Krzyzewski shares his thoughts on LeBron James

Appointed to lead Team USA for the 2008 Olympic Games, “Coach K” logically selected a LeBron who was already rolling over the competition in the NBA.

The opportunity for him to discover this still young but devilishly talented phenomenon.

It would also seem that the Young King knew how to quickly win over his coach, as the latter declared in The Herd :

Mike Krzyzewski: As soon as I started coaching him, I noticed how smart he was.

I was shocked by what an incredible athlete he was, too. And on top of that athleticism, you add basketball IQ, a commanding voice, leadership and something a lot of people don’t have, which is the willingness to prepare to win. He’s just that prepared.

To me, Kobe and him were above and beyond in terms of preparation. Whether it was physical, mental or whatever.

And whether it was in practice or in a game, when they were on the court, they wanted to be the best. All the time.

And they paid the price. So anyone who picks on LeBron is crazy. You’ll never see someone like him again. He’s one of a kind.

Despite all his experience, he who was notably assistant coach of the Dream Team in 1992, Krzyzewski remained captivated by all the qualities that LBJ already had in the 2000s.

Particularly in terms of preparation and competitiveness, which led him to compare him to Kobe Bryant.

And what could be more logical given the level displayed by the Chosen One at the Beijing Olympics:

Mike Krzyzewski may have seen thousands of players come and go under his command in his career, but few of them have been the subject of such flattering remarks as LeBron James from him. Enough to place a man in the all-time hierarchy.