DURHAM, N.C. — Hearing the words from Mike Krzyzewski’s mouth, even crackling through a telephone, means so much more.
“I’m heartbroken,” Krzyzewski said Monday on the ACC coaches teleconference. “Just heartbroken about it.”
On Sunday afternoon, hours after Kobe Bryant and eight others — including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna — died in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles, Krzyzewski released a statement remembering his former player. Bryant never suited up for Coach K in Durham, their bond instead built over 11 years with USA Basketball and two Olympic gold medals.
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“We have tragically lost one of the greatest sports figures of our time with the passing of Kobe Bryant,” Krzyzewski said in that statement. “He was an incredibly gifted person who was universally respected. He was in constant pursuit of doing something special, and there will never be a greater warrior in our sport. I had the amazing honor of coaching Kobe in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, and I will always remember how much he cherished representing his country in a first-class manner playing the game he so loved.
“The game of basketball is better today because of Kobe, and he deserves eternal appreciation for that. This is a devastating loss, made even more tragic by the passing of his daughter, Gianna, and all others on board. The entire Krzyzewski family is saddened as we genuinely loved and admired Kobe. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Vanessa, their daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri, and the families of those involved.”
It was clear from that how much Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and two-time Finals MVP, meant to the Hall of Fame coach. Still, it’s different hearing Krzyzewski speak those words.
Different, because that’s when the emotions truly come through. When each word harkens to a larger memory. To happier times.
“Well it’s a tragic, shocking day for all those families. And for us — Kobe was part of our family, the USA basketball family,” Krzyzewski began on Monday. “He was one of our leaders. He helped create the culture that we were able to build in that 11-year period. And he was very close to my family. We shared two loves: love of the game, and we both had daughters. Behind the scenes, he was amazing with my grandkids in Beijing and also in London, and they idolized him. You know, one of my grandsons, his nickname is Mamba because he got to meet (Kobe) in Beijing and fell in love with him.”
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The basketball lives of Krzyzewski and Bryant had overlapped before 2008, but the run-up to those Summer Olympics in Beijing was when coach and player really began to develop their relationship. The United States had earned disappointing bronze medals in its previous two international tournaments, the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 FIBA World Championship, and Bryant and Krzyzewski were both brought in to help course-correct. The results were dominant for the Redeem Team: With Bryant as captain, the group won every Olympic match by double-digits, including by 11 over Spain in the gold-medal game.
“The friendships that he developed when he was the best player in the world in 2008 in Beijing, with LeBron (James), Carmelo (Anthony), Dwyane (Wade), Chris Bosh, helped tremendously. And then when we got to London, that friendship was there to reintroduce another unique guy in (Kevin) Durant, and bring another unique youngster, Anthony Davis, along,” Krzyzewski said of Bryant. “When you trace the history of USA basketball, Kobe Bryant is really a central figure.”
Krzyzewski said during his time as coach of Team USA, one of Bryant’s relationships stood out over all the rest.
“If you look, really the most important relationship in my 11 years was the relationship that Kobe and LeBron had,” Coach K said. “And my heart goes out to LeBron, because I know how … I mean, you’re talking about two one-of-a-kinds who gave each other, and their team, their best, and created an environment for others to learn from that friendship, and from that knowledge that (comes from) two brilliant minds and two amazing competitors.”
But on top of Bryant’s pure basketball talent and intellect, Krzyzewski said, it was his willingness to be coached and his ability to push himself that helped him — and Team USA — reach full potential.
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“Kobe was one of a kind, and he wasn’t like anybody; everyone was trying to be like him,” Krzyzewski said. “He was always in pursuit of special and the next moment. But instead of just pursuing it, he always prepared. There’s really nobody who prepared any harder than him, and (he) was never afraid of the next moment.
“We had a really close friendship, and we trusted one another. He allowed me to be his coach, and great players allow their coaches to coach them. And (they) work with that coaching staff to develop an atmosphere and an environment that’s conducive to success, and he, LeBron and those guys did that.”
Krzyzewski said he learned the news on his way home from practice Sunday, and that he would address the Blue Devils later Monday. There are countless stories and pieces of wisdom he might share, but one theme will emerge.
“He just understood what it took to win and get a group together,” Krzyzewski said. “Basketball will be forever grateful for not what he only did with the NBA, but what we did with the U.S. and what he did off the court in promoting the game.”
(Photo of Mike Krzyzewski and Kobe Bryant in July 2012: Catherine Steenkeste/NBAE via Getty Images)
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