Sports

Where might LeBron James Jr. play college ball? Hint, his father is pro-Duke.

Already on good terms with Mike Krzyzewski from their shared Olympic experiences, LeBron James hopes the 71-year-old Krzyzewski can coach his son one day.

When ESPN posted a video of Krzyzewski defending R.J. Barrett from Duke fan criticism this week, James commented favorably on Instagram.

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This seems like something

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““Love Coach K! The absolute BEST! Hope he’s still at the helm when my boy comes up.” James wrote.

LeBron James Jr., 14, visited the Duke campus last summer along with his North Coast Blue Chips summer-league team. A video of their visit has been viewed nearly 2 million times on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkoL0QB5By4#action=share

Four-time NBA most valuable player LeBron James, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, played for the U.S. national team Krzyzewski coached to Olympic gold medals at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London games.

He skipped college to head straight for the NBA in 2003 and was the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Current draft rules require players to be a year removed from high school before entering the draft. Unless that rule is changed, LeBron James Jr. would need to play a year in college prior to beginning an NBA career.

Both he, and now his father, have shown an affinity for the Duke program, provided Krzyzewski is still coaching in 2023.



Steve Wiseman
The News & Observer
Steve Wiseman was named Raleigh News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun sports editor in May 2025. He covered Duke athletics, beginning in 2010, prior to his current assignment. In the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, he placed in the top 10 in beat writing in 2019, 2021 and 2022, breaking news in 2019, event coverage in 2025 and explanatory writing in 2018. Before coming to Durham in 2010, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989. 
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