Team USA basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski shared an emotional moment with recently injured star Paul George, who underwent injury to fix a fractured right tibia and fibula on Saturday. The gruesome injury has pretty much put everything on hold as it relates to team building leading up to the 2014 FIBA World Cup. But Coach K didn’t seem too worried about that. Instead, his focus was on the injured star.
What a picture….Coach K visiting and supporting Paul George in the hospital. pic.twitter.com/jGuQijZgY8
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 3, 2014
The respected Duke University basketball coach is considered a father figure to all those who have played under him, both in Durham and for Team USA. He gets emotionally involved in the lives of his players. And this heartwarming embrace with George on Saturday is yet another example of that.
Coach K had this to say about the injury (via SB Nation).
It’s a tough situation for our entire organization — our coaches, our players. Very, very emotional. There’s no way the game could have gone on under the circumstances.
We just need to take a step back before we do anything at all. Our first concern — our primary concern — is Paul George.
He then turned his attention (at least for a minute) to the ramifications it might have on the roster.
I haven’t had time to think about anything, quite honestly, except Paul. So, ramifications and all of that stuff, that’s for another time.
There have been some questions about how Team USA should move forward and whether professional basketball players should continue to play in international competitions.
Photo: CBS Sports