Coach K is Playing a Role in Lakers' Coaching Search, per Report

The ex-Duke boss appears to be lending Los Angeles his insight.

Apr 2, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski speaks. / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

On Tuesday, Jovan Buha and Shams Charania of The Athletic identified three potential names as "leading targets" to become the Los Angeles Lakers' next head coach: New Orleans Pelicans assistant coach James Borrego, Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell and ESPN analyst JJ Redick.

Another former boss, however, appears to be helping the Lakers out behind the scenes.

"One person who has become a respected unofficial resource for the Lakers during the process is ​​legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski," Buha and Charania wrote, "whose deep knowledge for candidates, such as Redick and others, provides a lens into the culture the organization wants and the characteristics of a potential staff around the next head coach."

Krzyzewski coached Redick at Duke from 2003 to '06. He also coached against Cassell when the latter played for Florida State from 1992 to '93, and his final three years with the Blue Devils overlapped with Borrego's three-year stint leading the Charlotte Hornets.

The end result of Los Angeles's search is still up in the air, but the Lakers appear at least to have nailed the beginning.