Christian Laettner and Coach K

By now, you know the story about Christian Laettner picking on Bobby Hurley after the freshman point guard arrived at Duke. It has been told numerous times from various angles over the years, refreshed recently on ESPN’s “30 for 30” documentary, I Hate Christian Laettner.

Laettner teased Hurley for numerous reasons. More than anything, Laettner resented Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s decision to anoint Hurley as a leader without being initiated into the program. Laettner viewed the move as an injustice and after he was forced to put up with Danny Ferry the previous year.

Over the past quarter-century, Laettner has realized that Coach K didn’t compromise his ideals when it came to Hurley. Krzyzewski was evolving into the greatest coach in the past 40 years. Laettner came away with even more respect for Krzyzewski because he was willing to change with the times.

“I saw an interview that he did the other day where he said that he, himself, is still learning and still adjusting and still evolving,” Laettner said Thursday by telephone. “He’s learning how to coach these kids. He’s coaching them differently today than he did me 23 years ago. Coach K is still learning. They say, ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.’ He’s breaking that cliché. He’s an old dog for sure, but he looks young on the sideline. He has a lot of passion and intensity, but he’s not so rigid that he doesn’t evolve and change with the way kids are today and the way the game is played today.”

“I’m sure he’s still stubborn about some deep-rooted, hard-core philosophies that he has,” Laettner said. “I’m sure he delivers those messages to the kids very strictly and very stubbornly. In other ways, he has to be willing to change, be willing to give in and relent, and relate with these young players today.”

And they’re still learning from Krzyzewski.

“It’s a special bond that can never be taken away,” Laettner said. “I’m 50 years old, and he still coaches me to this day just like he did when I was 20 years old. I definitely take advantage of that situation, and I’m sure the other guys do the same thing.”

Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life