DURHAM, N.C. — Nearly 100 former players, including Duke legends Grant Hill, Jason Williams, Shane Battier and Christian Laettner, lined the court at Cameron Indoor Stadium to welcome coach Mike Krzyzewski for the final time Saturday, as the Blue Devils wrapped their regular season — and the legendary coach’s career on his home court — against rival North Carolina.
Cameron Indoor might as well have rolled out an official red carpet for the occasion.
While the game itself held little intrigue in the standings — Duke has already clinched its first solo ACC regular-season title since 2006 — the demand for tickets to see Krzyzewski coach his final home game was astronomical, with the average price nearly $6,000 according to StubHub.
Attendance, all told, was 9,314 as North Carolina pulled away late and won, 94-81. North Carolina’s Armando Bacot and Duke’s Paolo Banchero led all scorers with 23.
𝔅𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔥𝔬𝔬𝔡 rolling DEEP today for The Goat!!!!!
💙🐐💙🐐💙🐐💙🐐💙🐐💙🐐 #CoachK pic.twitter.com/5MFT2sz3tc
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 5, 2022
Beyond the 96 former players in attendance to see Krzyzewski off, a bevy of stars from sports and Hollywood was in the stands, too.
Fans roared as comedian Jerry Seinfeld and NBA commissioner Adam Silver, sitting next to each other, waved on the video board. Sitcom stars Ken Jeong and Retta sat courtside along the baseline. Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse, former Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki and Hall of Fame receiver Terrell Owens were all in attendance, too.
But it was less the celebrities who stole the moment than the crowd — a packed house more than an hour before tipoff, roaring with energy — and the extended Duke family who stole the show for Krzyzewski.
The former players formed a tunnel leading from one corner of the baseline to midcourt, and as Krzyzewski was announced, the crowd erupted. The 75-year-old, who coached his first game here in November 1980, made his way through the phalanx of former players, tapping each on the chest, bumping fists or sharing a hug. Many held cellphones aloft, recording the moment for posterity.
After Krzyzewski made his way to the end of the line, the group gathered at midcourt for a photo of the family reunion.
