Though the 2004 NBA season brought the Los Angeles Lakers close to bagging their 15th Championship title, the team after a heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Pistons in the Finale series, was in shambles. The two main Lakers stars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal didn’t have the same chemistry in the team which impacted their chances of clinching the silverware. Hence, in order to set things right after Phil Jackson’s exit, the Lakers tried to get the then Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and offered him a coveted contract which he declined. However, years after his retirement, Coach K regrets not taking up the deal that could have changed his life.

“I think if I was 57 now and it was offered, I would go, I still love Duke. College basketball is terrific — the product. All the stuff you have to do for it, it’s not as gratifying as it was 20 years ago. At least for me,” Coach K told ESPN during an interview.

Notably, at that time, the Lakers star Kobe Bryant was involved in a scandal that could have ruined his life. Taking cognizance of the same, his high school coach Sam Rines in an interview had stated that “Krzyzewski is the only one right now who can really help Kobe.” Furthermore, Coach K too wanted a chance to mentor possibly the best generational talent in Bryant. However, ultimately the 3× Naismith College Coach of the Year followed his heart and decided not to make the switch. But now that almost 2 decades have passed, the 77-year-old regrets not making the most of that choice.

As we all know, Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020. And despite his absence, Coach K reveals that if he was offered the job today and if his age allowed, he would take it up without further ado. According to ESPN, Coach K was offered a five-year $40 million contract by the Lakers. This could have been a significant increase in his salary as the coach was earning a mere $2 million around that time. However, he declined the offer.

Meanwhile, the Lakers replaced Jackson with Rudy Tomjanovich, who coached the team to a disappointing 22–19 record only to later resign due to health issues. However, with time, the Lakers got into their rebuilding phase and won two more titles in the same decade. But if Krzyzewski was so keen to mentor Bryant, why didn’t he?

Mike Krzyzewski’s apparent reason to not coach the Lakers

Coach K had a poor 17-13 record when he first signed with Duke in 1980. Many state that it would have got any other coach fired. But Coach K was favored by the management at Durham who gave him more chances to prove his mettle. Hence, when he got a chance to sign with the Lakers, the then 3x NCAA Championship-winning coach decided to choose Duke over an irresistible offer from the Lakers.

“Your heart has to be in whatever you lead. It became apparent that this decision was somewhat easier to make because you have to follow your heart and lead with it and Duke has always taken up my whole heart,” he told the Gainesville Sun in 2004. And his decision proved just right.

Leading the Duke to two more national titles, Krzyzewski ended his career as the winningest coach in the NCAA D1. To top that, he also fulfilled his wish of Coaching Bryant when he did the same for the national team during the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. But as for now, he wants to make a U-turn if age is on his side. Coach K mentoring the Lakers would definitely been a happy sight for basketball fans around the world.