Former Duke assistant Nolan Smith sparks rumors of unrest within ‘The Brotherhood’
The group of former players and assistants to work under Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski continued to grow over his storied career before becoming known as “The Brotherhood.” The elite group of basketball minds on and off the court – and sometimes both – became a symbol of his legacy in the years which wound down to his retirement in 2022.
However, just months after Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement became official, there are rumors of unrest within “The Brotherhood.” Once a Duke player and assistant, new Louisville assistant coach Nolan Smith liked and then unliked a tweet on social media which referenced the reported snub of Tommy Amaker in favor of Jon Scheyer.
“I thought Tommy Amaker was supposed to get the Duke job,” the liked tweet read, referencing a previous report that Duke officials preferred the Harvard head coach before Krzyzewski used his influence to push for Scheyer to take over.
Given that Smith left the staff immediately following Scheyer’s appointment, speculation has now reached a fever pitch that some within “The Brotherhood” disagreed with the decision.
Despite the speculation, Krzyzewski declined to comment on the details of the initial report suggesting Amaker did not receive his blessing as the successor, and Smith will likely never detail the reason for liking the now unliked tweet. The only thing that is for certain is Scheyer took over the program in April and has sense assembled an impressive roster for his maiden season.
Mike Krzyzewski talked with Tommy Amaker
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talked former player and assistant Tommy Amaker, who currently coaches at Harvard, out of becoming his successor, according to a new book by New York Post columnist Ian O’Conner. The move reportedly cleared the way for chosen heir Jon Scheyer to receive the promotion.
According to O’Conner, who wrote “Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski,” says in his book that Duke went as far as to offer the position to Tommy Amaker before the intervention.
Krzyzewski held a zoom call with Amaker last spring, having a “difficult conversation.” According to sources close to the Harvard head coach, he left the call “heartbroken.”
“Mike had to explain to Tommy why he couldn’t be the guy,” said one Duke source told O’Conner. “He can be Don Corleone when he needs to be.”
According to the report, one key reason for Krzyzewski’s decision to choose Scheyer over Amaker centered on continued control and influence within the program after his departure at the end of this season. The 34-year old current Duke assistant offered that pathway in a much more clear way.
During the zoom call, Krzyzewski told him that the hire would force him to demote an assistant, as Amaker served as head coach in waiting like Scheyer has, causing an awkward situation. He also worried about created a strained relationship with his young assistant who ultimately proved to be his successor.
Mike Krzyzewski, Tommy Amaker and the senior Duke official who oversaw the coaching search each declined to comment in the book.