Orlando rookie describes one of his most intense matchups in college being Coach K’s last game: “That was the most high pressure like Do or Die type game”
Mike Krzyzewski, also known as 'Coach K', is arguably the greatest basketball coach of all time. After getting nearly 50 years of coaching experience under his belt, Coach K said goodbye to the game of basketball earlier this year.
With an overwhelmingly impressive head coaching record of 1,202-368, the Duke University head coach's retirement was without question a massive affair.
For his final game against the University of North Carolina, countless veterans made the trip to support their former head coach. With players like Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, JJ Redick and Grayson Allen in attendance, all signs pointed to Duke giving Coach K a sendoff for the ages with a win. Given the high stakes for the famed coach's final fight, it's no surprise Paolo Banchero was feeling the pressure.
Unfortunately, despite the overwhelming support for Duke and Coach K, the team ultimately lost the game 81-77. During a recent interview with Fubo Sports, Banchero spoke about his time at Duke, as well as Coach K's final game, saying:
"I mean that was by far like by far, I've played some big games like that was the most high pressure like Do or Die type game bro and that game was just crazy because both teams was playing at like such a high level like they was playing their asses off like hands up to them for sure but like every possession in that game mattered."
Although Duke ultimately lost in Mike Krzyzewski's final game, the mark he left on the game and the players who played for him cannot be understated.
With five NCAA championships, two FIBA World Cup Championships, and three Olympic Gold medals to his name, Coach K's records stand second to none.
Coach K's legacy in the game of basketball
Since taking up the reins of Duke Basketball in 1980, Coach K has guided and helped develop some of the best players to ever compete in the NBA. As it stands right now, players who have been coached by Mike Krzyzewski are some of the most dominant in the league.
Notably, five-star NBA recruit turned Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum spent a year playing under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, where he helped the team win the ACC Tournament Championship before inevitably declaring for the NBA draft after just one season.
Another name NBA fans may recall to have played Duke is New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson, who played in 33 games for the Blue Devils during the 2018-19 season, where he averaged a whopping 22 points per game.
What made Williamson's season at Duke such an impressive one was his efficiency on the defensive end, where he averaged 2.1 steals per game and 1.8 blocks per game.
Of course, in the most recent NBA draft, it was Paolo Banchero who carried the torch for Duke, being selected as the number-one overall pick by the Orlando Magic. With the 2022 ACC Rookie of the Year added to their squad, the Magic look to be poised for success in the years to come.
One of the many things analysts have applauded Coach K for is making sure his players are 'NBA ready' - something that holds true for Banchero as well. In his rookie debut, Banchero scored 27 points, two more than LeBron James did in his. Two days later it was more of the same as Banchero racked up a double-double on the stat sheet with 20 points and 12 rebounds.
Unfortunately, the memory of Duke losing in Mike Krzyzewski's final game is one that will likely continue to sting Banchero for quite some time.