Coach K: New Jersey ‘Nyet’

Despite a report that the New Jersey Nets were targeting Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski as their top choice to replace interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe next season, Coach K says it isn’t happening.

After Duke beat Maryland on Saturday, Coach K referred to the Nets prospective Russian owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, and said: “The guy’s Russian, right? You think he’d hire a Polish guy?”

He added: “No one’s contacted me. And if they do, I think nyet would be easy for me to say.”

Louisville coach Rick Pitino also said he wasn’t interested in the Nets’ job and planned to stay at Louisville until he’s 65. “I hope they want to have me,” said Pitino, 57.

(Photo courtesy AP)

Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.

Written by Adam Zagoria

[email protected]

Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.