Coach K in the NBA? Former Duke men’s basketball coach adds another retirement job
As he returns to his alma mater this week to give the commencement address, NBA commissioner Adam Silver will tap into a Duke icon to help with his full-time job.
The NBA is hiring retired Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski as a special advisor to basketball operations, the league announced Wednesday.
The 76-year-old Krzyzewski will remain in the Duke ambassador role to which school president Vincent Price named him following his 2022 retirement after 42 seasons as the Blue Devils coach. But he’ll now also be working in an official capacity with the NBA with Silver, a 1984 Duke graduate and Duke Board of Trustees member since 2015, and the board’s vice chair.
Krzyzewski’s first duties in the new job will attending the NBA general managers meeting in Chicago next week. He will advise the league office and team executives on issues related to the game.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to deepen my connection to the NBA and participate in conversations about further strengthening the league and the game,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. “Even in my retirement from coaching, my passion for the sport has never been higher. This role will enable me to stay engaged with basketball at the highest level.”
Krzyzewski is college basketball’s all-time coaching wins leader (1,202), amassed while leading Duke to five NCAA championships and 13 Final Four appearances. He also coached NBA players on the U.S. men’s senior national team to Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016 in addition to FIBA world championships in 2010 and 2014.
“We are honored to have Coach K join the NBA family and share his vast experience and expertise with the league and our teams,” NBA president for league operations Byron Spruell said in a statement. “As a preeminent coach and renowned leader who cares deeply about the game of basketball, he is uniquely suited to drive discussions and offer insights about the present and future of the NBA.”
During Krzyzewski’s Duke coaching tenure, 73 of his players were selected in the NBA Draft. That includes 46 first-round picks, including four No. 1 overall selections. The last of those No. 1 overall picks, Paolo Banchero, helped the Blue Devils to the 2022 Final Four and was named the NBA rookie of the year with Orlando this season.
Duke announced in February that Silver would be its commencement speaker this year. Graduation ceremonies are Sunday at 9 a.m. at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Silver will also participate in the Duke Board of Trustee’s annual May meeting this weekend.
