Coach K says everybody wants to win but not everybody has the motivation to prepare like LeBron James.
Mike Krzyzewski is one of the few head coaches with a close relationship with LeBron James. Krzyzewski and James have showered each other with compliments over the years, and King James has never been shy about telling the media that Coach K is one of his favorite coaches ever.
And so, during his appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd show, the five-time NCAA champion coach was asked what it’s like to coach a player as great as LeBron.
“I noticed him when I started coaching him, how smart he was,” began Krzyzewski. “You’re a little bit shocked at the athleticism, just an amazing athlete that’s there. And then, you add intelligence, then you add a command voice, then you add leadership, and then you add something that a lot of people don’t have and that’s the will to prepare to win.”
LeBron’s preparation is second to none
LeBron and Coach K go a long way back. James played for the gold medal-winning 2008 and 2012 U.S., men’s basketball Olympic teams which Krzyzewski coached. LeBron was also part of the 2007 Team USA which the former Duke bench tactician steered to first place in the FIBA Americas tournament.
Before practice, Coach K says that LeBron stretches for over a half hour to prepare his body. While he prepares his body, he also prepares his mind. And when it was time to play whether in practice or a game, he always wanted to be the best, all the time.
“He’s just so damn prepared,” added Krzyzewski. “He and Kobe were the two guys I thought were above everyone in preparation – physical, mental, you name it.”
Markeiff says King James’ work ethic is unbelievable.
Coach K talked about the same preparation that Markieff Morris saw when he played alongside LeBron James during the 2019-20 and 2021-21 NBA seasons. According to Morris, he’s never seen anyone work as hard as LeBron.
“Watching him and his work ethic, and what he does for his body, and what he does on the court and what he does to stay in shape is top to none,” Markieff said. “Three or four hours before the game, two to three hours after the game, while going in the cold tub, and he’s putting in work in the weight room. He’s getting treatment until 2 in the morning, you know, all those things and still being him.”
Krzyzewski said those who hate LeBron are crazy because the world will never see anyone like him again. He says that what he’s doing for Team USA in the Olympics is nothing short of impressive. But while many are surprised at how good he’s looked so far, Coach K isn’t because he knows the kind of preparation King James puts in.
