How Many Players Has Coach K Sent To The Nba?

In his 41 years as head coach of Duke University’s men’s basketball team, Coach K has sent an impressive number of players to the NBA. Here’s a look at how many players he has helped make their professional dreams come true.

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Mike Krzyzewski’s History with the NBA

Since 1980, Duke Men’s Basketball Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski has sent 36 players to the NBA. In that time frame, he has coached 10 NBA All-Stars, 26 All-Rookies, and 2 NBA Players of the Year. Most recently, he has sent Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish to the league.

His Early Years

Mike Krzyzewski was born on February 13th, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood on the city’s West Side. His father, William, was a Polish immigrant who worked as a butcher, while his mother, Emily (Meyer) Krzyzewski, was a first-generation German American. Krzyzewski has two older brothers—Ronald, who is four years his senior, and Kenneth, who is two years older.

Krzyzewski’s father died of cancer when he was just 13 years old, which had a profound effect on him. In his memoirs, he writes about how the experience made him more mature and responsible at an early age. It also instilled in him a strong work ethic—a quality that would serve him well throughout his career.

After graduating from high school in 1965, Krzyzewski attended the United States Military Academy at West Point (commonly known as “Army”). He played basketball for the Army team under legendary coach Bob Knight. Krzyzewski was a standout player and served as team captain during his senior year. He graduated from Army in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in history.

His Time with the Lakers

Mike Krzyzewski was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1981 to 1984, serving under head coaches Paul Westhead and Pat Riley. In his three years with the team, Krzyzewski helped guide the Lakers to a record of 21–24 in 1981, 57–25 in 1982, and 63–19 in 1983. The Lakers won the NBA championship in 1982 and 1983.

His Return to College

Krzyzewski’s decision to stay at Duke was further cemented when he was offered the chance to become the U.S. men’s national team coach in 2005. This was a unique opportunity, as it meant Krzyzewski would have a direct impact on the American game at its highest level. He would be tasked with turning around a struggling program that had failed to medal in either of the previous two Olympic Games.

Krzyzewski’s work with the national team was nothing short of miraculous. In 2008, he led the “Redeem Team” to a gold medal in Beijing, and then repeated as Olympic champions in 2012. In between, Krzyzewski guided the Americans to gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. He also coached a team comprised of NBA stars to a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Krzyzewski’s Effect on the NBA

Since Krzyzewski took over as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils in 1980, he has sent an impressive number of players to the NBA. In fact, as of 2019, he has coached a total of 41 players who have gone on to play in the NBA. This includes standouts like Kyrie Irving, Carmelo Anthony, and Grant Hill.

The “Kobe Effect”

Krzyzewski has had a profound effect on the NBA. He has coached 27 players who have gone on to play in the NBA, including some of the biggest names in the league today. These include Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving, and many others. In addition to these superstar players, Krzyzewski has also coached a number of role players and journeymen who have had successful careers in the NBA.

The “Kobe Effect” is perhaps the most well-known of Krzyzewski’s impact on the NBA. Kobe Bryant credits much of his success to the lessons he learned from Coach K. In turn, many other players have looked to Krzyzewski as a mentor and an inspiration. LeBron James even referred to Krzyzewski as his “second father.” The influence that Krzyzewski has had on these players is undeniable.

It is clear that Coach K has had a profound impact on the NBA. His accomplishments speak for themselves. But beyond his tangible achievements, Krzyzewski has also had a significant impact on the lives of many young men who have gone on to have successful careers in the NBA.

The “LeBron Effect”

The “LeBron Effect” is a term that refers to the impact that LeBron James has had on the National Basketball Association (NBA). since he entered the league in 2003. Many NBA observers believe that LeBron’s arrival has ushered in a new era of player development, in which young players are better prepared to make an immediate impact in the league than they were in the past.

One of the most notable examples of this phenomenon is Kyrie Irving, who was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2011. Irving was widely considered to be one of the most NBA-ready prospects in recent memory, and he lived up to that billing by winning the Rookie of the Year Award and leading the Cavaliers to the Finals in his first season.

Many believe that Irving would not have been able to make such a seamless transition to the NBA if it weren’t for LeBron’s presence on the Cavaliers. LeBron served as a mentor for Irving, and his example showed Irving what it takes to be a successful player at the highest level.

The “LeBron Effect” can also be seen in the way that other players have developed since he entered the league. For example, Kawhi Leonard would not have been able to reach his full potential if it weren’t for LeBron’s arrival in San Antonio Spurs.

In short, LeBron James has had a profound impact on the NBA, both on and off the court. His influence can be seen in everything from player development to television ratings, and there is no doubt that he will continue to shape the league for years to come.

The “Durant Effect”

In 2007, Kevin Durant was the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. He was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics, who then became the Oklahoma City Thunder. Durant played for the Thunder for nine seasons before joining the Golden State Warriors in 2016. In his first season with the Warriors, Durant won his first NBA Championship. He would go on to win two more championships with the Warriors, in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, Durant left the Warriors to sign with the Brooklyn Nets.

Durant is not only one of the best players in the NBA, he is also one of the best players of all time. He has won four NBA Championships, two NBA Finals MVP Awards, and one Regular Season MVP Award. He is a ten-time All-Star and a five-time All-NBA First Team member. Durant has also been named to the All-NBA Second Team three times and the All-NBA Third Team once.

Durant is one of several players who have been labeled as the “Durant Effect.” The Durant Effect is when a player joins a team and immediately makes that team better. The other players who have been labeled with the Durant Effect are LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade.

Krzyzewski’s Legacy

Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has now sent 156 players to the NBA during his 41 years with the program. That includes 15 first-round picks and 41 lottery selections. Overall, Krzyzewski has had 78 players drafted in his time at Duke.

His Impact on the Game

In his 41 seasons at the helm of the Duke men’s basketball program, head coach Mike Krzyzewski has sent 158 players to the NBA. That’s an average of 3.9 players per season, and it doesn’t even include the dozens of players who have gone on to have successful careers in Europe or elsewhere.

Coach K’s impact on the game of basketball is impossible to overstate. He is one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history, and his teams have been consistently excellent for decades. His impact on the game extends far beyond wins and losses, though.

Krzyzewski has had a profound impact on the way basketball is played and coached at all levels. He popularized the use of defensive rotations and zone defenses, and his teams are known for their unselfish play and disciplined execution. These concepts are now used by teams at all levels of basketball, from youth leagues all the way up to the professional ranks.

Krzyzewski has also had a major impact on the development of young players. He frequently serves as a mentor to young coaches and has helped develop dozens of future NBA stars, including Kyrie Irving, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.

There is no doubt that Coach K is one of the most influential figures in basketball history. His impact on the game will be felt for generations to come.

His Impact on Players

One of the biggest ways that Krzyzewski has impacted the game of basketball is through the number of players he has sent to the NBA. In his 41 years at Duke, Coach K has helped nearly 150 players realize their dreams of playing professional basketball.

Many of these players have gone on to have successful careers in the NBA, including All-Stars like Kyrie Irving and Zion Williamson. Other players like J.J. Redick and Shane Battier have carved out long careers as role players and are now considered among the best in the business.

While Krzyzewski’s impact on the game will be felt long after he retires, his greatest legacy may be the number of young men he has helped mold into successful adults. Players like Grant Hill and Carlos Boozer credit Krzyzewski with teaching them valuable life lessons that go far beyond basketball. It’s clear that Krzyzewski’s impact on the game will be felt for many years to come.