Krzyzewski turns down Lakers’ offer

DURHAM, N.C. — Mike Krzyzewski is staying at Duke, ending talks with the Los Angeles Lakers about becoming their coach.

“Your heart has to be in whatever you lead,” Krzyzewski said Monday. “It became apparent that this decision was somewhat easier to make because you have to follow your heart and lead with it and Duke has always taken up my whole heart.”

Krzyzewski, who has won three national titles at Duke, said the timing of the Lakers’ offer and their prominence as one of professional sports’ most famous franchises made the chance to coach them tempting, but he never got to the point of being ready to leave.

“The decision has always been to stay at Duke. It would have to be something changing (that),” he said at a news conference on campus.

Krzyzewski said Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak first made his interest in hiring Krzyzewski clear during conversations the two had around the time of the NBA draft. Kupchak met with Krzyzewski in North Carolina last Thursday to discuss the job.

Even Lakers star Kobe Bryant was reportedly involved in trying to persuade Coach K to take the job.

The Lakers had no immediate comment Monday on the decision by Krzyzewski, who signed a lifetime contract with Duke three years ago.

Krzyzewski declined to rule out the possibility of ever coaching in the NBA.

“I don’t want to say never, but I also don’t want to lead anyone on. … I want to coach for a long time,” he said.

The Lakers have been searching for a new coach since June 18, when coach Phil Jackson stepped down three days after an NBA Finals loss to Detroit.

The 57-year-old Krzyzewski has a 621-181 record at Duke, leading the Blue Devils to championships in 1991, 1992 and 2001.

Under Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils have 10 Final Four appearances, eight Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championships and 10 conference regular-season titles.