USA - Coach K to stay in charge

DURHAM (Olympics/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

That time honored phrase in America is applicable to the men's national team of the United States.

On Thursday afternoon, USA Basketball announced that Mike Krzyzewski will coach the team through 2016, which means he'll be in charge of the squad at next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain and at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

The long-time coach of Duke University, Krzyzewski gave strong indications after the London Games that he would not continue leading the USA side.

But with USA Basketball supremo Jerry Colangelo hoping that he would continue as coach, his patience has been rewarded.

At a press conference today, Krzyzewski said that he enjoys the national team job and working with Colangelo.

"Jerry and I have an incredible relationship," Krzyzewski said.

"Jerry, I've learned a lot from just working with him.

"He's been the main architect for changing USA Basketball.

"The two of us, along with the infrastructure of USA Basketball, we work very well together as a team."

Colangelo took charge of the USA men's national team program after the 2004 Olympics, when the USA lost three games and settled for a bronze medal.

His biggest move was to hand the reins to Krzyzewski.

Since Coach K has taken over, the team has been nearly unbeatable.

The only blemish came in his first tournament, as the US team suffered a 101-95 defeat to Greece in the Semi-Finals of the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Since then, Team USA have cut down most of their opponents like a scythe slicing through wheat.

Krzyzewski stressed on Thursday, though, that the USA can never relax because of the competition abroad is very good.

"When you play Argentina and Spain, it's a hell of a game," he said.

"Tell me (Manu) Ginobili and (Luis) Scola aren't good.

"I'd like to have those guys are on our team."

There is no question about the deep pool of players the USA have to choose from.

"We have the best talent," Krzyzewski said.

"We have to make sure we do all of the things necessary to become the best team."

As for the make-up of the squad moving forward, Krzyzewski knows there will be newcomers.

But he says there is no question about his desire to have the NBA's MVP and star of the last two Olympic teams, LeBron James.

"It's easy to say who you'd like to have," Krzyzewski said.

"LeBron is terrific in every sense of the word. He was there before we were there. You are talking about a guy who has given a lot for his country.

"Since 2004, he's been a part of three Olympics, a World Championship - it's hard to believe he'll be in his 30s. I don't know if he'll ever be over the hill.

"I hope he'll consider Rio.

"He was one of our leaders in London. I love the guy, I think he's unbelievable."

Since the upset by Greece at the FIBA World Championship in Japan, Krzyzewski has led the Americans to gold at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship, the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

Brazil only lost by two points to the USA at the World Championship in Turkey three years ago and Spain have twice pushed the USA very close in the Finals of the Beijing and London Games.

Lithuania also threatened to spring an upset last summer in Britain.

In most of their games, though, the Americans have looked unbeatable.

Because of their title triumph last summer in London, the USA qualified directly for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain and therefore will not play at this summer’s FIBA Americas Championship.

FIBA