Mike Krzyzewski Settles GOAT Debate Between Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant: “He’s the Ultimate Competitor”

Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski has experience some of the greatest players in basketball history.

Mike Krzyzewski Settles GOAT Debate Between Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant: “He’s the Ultimate Competitor”

Mike Krzyzewski coached Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Mike Krzyzewski labels Michael Jordan as the greatest player he has ever associated with, calling him "the ultimate competitor."
  • He acknowledges both Kobe Bryant and LeBron James as great players, emphasizing their talent and contributions.
  • Krzyzewski discusses managing egos among superstars, highlighting the importance of collaboration for success on the national team.

Just like many fans and members of the media, former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski has witnessed both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant play at both their best and their worst, and now watches LeBron James play in his 23rd season.

Then there are only a few who have been close to all three of them to know how great they arguably are. Even among them, not many can claim to know how each of those superstars is wired, as if an individual was close to say Jordan, and Bryant, it is unlikely they had a chance to get close to James.

That leaves Mike Krzyzewski as the only one who has been close to all three of them. He was the assistant coach on the 1984 Olympics team, as well as the 1992 Dream Team, giving him enough time to study Jordan’s growth from college to the pros.

Then he coached both Bryant and James twice, once with the 2008 Redeem Team and the follow-up effort with the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The best player that I’ve ever been associated with is Jordan… He’s a killer, for Christ’s sake. He can do anything. He got bored and went to play baseball for a while. Then still came back. His attitude and his work ethic, I love him. He’s the ultimate competitor.

Krzyzewski said

Coach K may not have mentioned the word GOAT, but his answer while on the Pat McAfee Show was enough to label Jordan as his greatest ever.

Mike Krzyzewski gave Pat McAfee a jolt after nearly leaving out LeBron James

After this, Mike Krzyzewski added that Kobe Bryant was also in the Chicago Bulls’ greats realm. Then, as he started to name other greats, host Pat McAfee asked him about LeBron James.

LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade at the 2008 Olympics
James, Bryant, and Dwyane Wade at the 2008 Olympics (Image via NBA Strife/X)

The Hall of Fame coach misheard the former Indianapolis Colts punter and said that he was not going to name another player. At this point, a shocked McAfee asked again if Krzyzewski did not have the Los Angeles Lakers superstar in the same realm as Michael Jordan, the coach replied.

No. LeBron is in there… LeBron and I are close, man. He helped us win. I love coaching LeBron.

Krzyzewski said

At this point, Pat McAfee finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing arguably one of the greatest coaches of all time had good things to say about the biggest guest on his show to date. That miscommunication was also weird, considering Coach K was consulted when the Lakers were looking at James’ podcast partner, JJ Redick, for their head coaching job.

Mike Krzyzewski used to allow his players to bring their egos

After talking about all the Pat McAfee Show cast members and former NFL star Darius Butler asked Mike Krzyzewski how he would manage the egos when coaching this mane superstars together for the national team.

I love managing egos if it’s matched by the same level of talent.

Krzyzewski replied

The five-time NCAA college basketball championship-winning coach also revealed how he would encourage every player to arrive with their egos intact.

Then, it was his job to manage how the different egos worked with each other. That explains how LeBron James and Kobe Bryant managed to perform to their best despite having to deal with their personal rivalries.

There is a reason why the longtime coach is that revered, and if not for him, basketball fans may not have had the luxury of watching Bryant, James, and Jordan excel on the international stage.

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