Duke basketball: Mike Krzyzewski answers basketball’s biggest debate

Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski gave his answer to one of the biggest questions in the sport.

It’s not the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate, but it’s close.

Mike Krzyzewski gave his answer on who would in a seven-game series, the 1992 USA Dream Team or the 2008 USA Redeem Team?

The Hall of Famer made an appearance on JJ Redick‘s podcast, The Old Man and the Three with JJ Redick and Tommy Alter, and Krzyzewski’s former star posed him with the question.

Now for reference, the 1992 Dream Team was comprised of Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, John Stockton, Clyde Drexler, and Christian Laettner.

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The 2008 Redeem Team was headlined by LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as well as Carlos Boozer, Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, Michael Redd, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, and Carmelo Anthony,

Redick asked Krzyzewski the question under the circumstances that everyone is healthy and in their prime, and it didn’t take the 73-year-old too long to come up with his response:

"“In their prime you’re talking about 11 Hall of Famers and the greatest team. That was the first time the NBA came to the Olympics and there was a visionary moment by David Stern and the NBA. It was an atomic bomb for the global world of basketball. Those guys were rock stars there. They were such gentlemen. They represented us so damn well. The NBA of the ’80’s built the NBA of who you are today. We didn’t have a culture for USA Basketball. They brought their culture to USA Basketball for that moment, and it didn’t stay after that. It was a moment in time.”"

Why the Duke basketball head coach is unbiased in his answer.

Many do forget that Krzyzewski was an assistant coach for the 1992 Dream Team along with P. J. Carlesimo and Lenny Wilkens, working for head coach Chuck Daly, and obviously, the Hall of Famer was the head coach for the 2008 Redeem Team.

Krzyzewski also had his two Blue Devils on each team, Laettner in 1992 and Boozer in 2008, so basketball junkies and Duke basketball haters cannot say that K was just picking the team with a former player of his.

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Many hold the same views as Mike Krzyzewski regarding this very question as the 2008 Redeem Team just doesn’t have the depth that the 1992 Dream Team does.

The full-length podcast with JJ Redick, Tommy Alter, and Mike Krzyzewski can be heard here and seen here.