Jerry Colangelo Comments on 2016 Rio Olympics, Mike Krzyzewski and More

USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo confirmed Mike Krzyzewski will coach in the 2016 Rio Olympics despite his plans to undergo knee replacement surgery. 

“He should be OK. We’re told that it’s going to be a nonissue. We didn’t know the exact status, but that’s the latest status for sure,” Colangelo said Wednesday, per Rachel Axon of USA Today. “He’s committed. He doesn’t feel he has any issue whatsoever. He’ll get through the surgery and he’ll be fine.”  

Krzyzewski, 69, will undergo a left-knee replacement following the conclusion of Duke's 2016 tournament run. The Hall of Famer has maintained he expects to be on the sidelines in Rio.

"Our medical team here at Duke and I expect a full recovery following the rehabilitation process and I have every intention of coaching the United States national team in Rio at the 2016 Olympics," Krzyzewski said, per ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

Colangelo previously expressed concern about Krzyzewski's status, "telling NBA.com he was thinking about 'what-ifs,'" per Axon. He later clarified his comments in a statement, saying, per Stein, "at no time have [Krzyzewski] and I ever discussed him not coaching the USA national team this summer."

The 2016 Olympics are slated to be Krzyzewski's last as the team's coach. Pursued by USA Basketball following its embarrassing performance at the 2004 Summer Games, Coach K took over in 2006 and has led the U.S. to two Olympic gold medals. He has posted a 75-1 record since being hired, also winning world championships in 2010 and 2014. 

“We wanted to put infrastructure in place in USA Basketball that would last a long, long time, much after he and I were gone. And I think we’ve done that,” Colangelo said, per Axon. “We created a culture. We created the infrastructure. We turned it to an unprecedented spot. Now the future is more about maintaining and so it’s a real legacy.”

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will take over for Krzyzewski at the conclusion of the 2016 Games. It will be the first time Popovich, widely regarded as the NBA's best tactical mind, has been the head coach of an international team. He previously served as an assistant on the 2004 team in Athens, Greece, that won bronze.

As for whether Krzyzewski can go out with gold, the odds are looking good. The United States currently has 31 players deemed strong enough for Olympic consideration. While the pool will eventually whittle down to 12, no other country has the luxury of picking from such a deep selection of talent. Assuming the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and others want to go out with the coach who brought them two gold medals, the U.S. will be a huge favorite.

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