Jay Bilas provides insight into level of fame for Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski

Mike Krzyzewski is riding off into the sunset. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, Coach K put a bow in his basketball coaching career and is set to spend the rest of his days in blissful retirement.

Although he’s done as head of the Duke men’s program, his celebrity will still follow him. According to Jay Bilas, who discussed the former coach on the Rich Eisen Show recently, Coach K won’t go to the games this season out of fear of drawing too much attention. Here’s what Bilas said:

“I do think he’d like to go to the games but I do think it would be a distraction. People would be looking at him, trying to get his autograph and all that stuff.”

Bilas then went on to explain that Coach K’s status has elevated him from the “normal joe” he once was.

“I don’t know that he’s able to do anything that he used to do when he was just a normal joe. I don’t think he goes to the grocery store. He goes out to dinner, but you know, it’s usually a private room type thing when he goes to dinner.”

Bilas also doesn’t believe Coach K has flown with commoners in quite some time.

“I don’t think he knows any of the rules for commercial air travel anymore. You know, liquids and all that stuff. I don’t think he’s been in a commercial airport in 20 years.”

Coach K has had 40 years of sitting on the lap of luxury. Adjusting back to normal joe status could be a tough transition for Krzyzewski.

Bilas makes hilarious joke on Coach K decision not to attend Duke games

As part of his appearance, Rich Eisen asked Jay Bilas about Mike Krzyzewski’s announcement that he would not attend Duke home games during the 2022-23 season. Eisen doubted that Coach K was really done going to Duke games. But Bilas thought K was telling the truth.

“I don’t think he wants to be the distraction, frankly,” Bilas shared. He explained that Coach K no longer runs normal errands — such as going to the grocery store — out of fear of being mobbed by Blue Devils supporters. He doesn’t fly commercially either. According to Bilas, it’s private jets exclusively for Mike Krzyzewski.

So him going to the games would be like the pope showing up to church when another priest is running mass. Coach K is stepping back into the shadows so that his protege can step into the spotlight.

Bilas also joked that Coach K has better things to do than mope around a program he no longer coaches. “He’s got pickle ball games scheduled,” Bilas joked. He mentioned that the 75-year-old new retiree once excelled at both tennis and racquetball in his older years, so now, perhaps Krzyzewski can pick up pickle ball.