Coach K Breaks Silence on JJ Redick's New Role

Mike Krzyzewski coached a ton of great basketball players during his 42 years as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils. One of those players was JJ Redick, who he was with between 2002 and 2006. Even though the duo couldn't win a national championship, Redick was able to establish himself as one of the greatest college players of his generation and became a lottery pick in the NBA Draft.

Therefore, not too many people know Redick and his leadership skills better than Coach K. He witnessed first hand the competitive and ambitious nature of Redick. What he has to say about the first-time head coach carries weight in basketball circles. And he had nothing but positive things to say about the 40-year-old.

Coach K Endorses JJ Redick For Lakers Head Coach

Saying that Redick is "terrific" and able to "relate to his players at the best level", Coach K believes that his former player can achieve a lot of success in the NBA as a head coach. Highlighting the fact that Redick was a superstar at the college level but a role player in the NBA, Krzyzewski thinks that will be very helpful for him in his communication with his players.

"For me, JJ is amazingly competitive, and is prepared as well as any player that I coached at Duke. He’s smart, he’s confident and he understands the game and having 15 years of being a pro, he has empathy for the guy trying to make it when he’s trying to make and makes it, and for the veteran who is still trying to make it."

- Coach K on JJ Redick

Coach K continued to praise Redick for the way he surrounded himself with good and experienced coaches. And the Duke legend knows a thing or two about what it takes to win at the highest level. He has won more games than anybody in college basketball history with 1,202, made 13 Final Fours, and won five national championships. If Redick is half as good as his former coach on the sidelines, the Lakers will be thrilled to have him.

More Duke news and rumors: