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NEW ORLEANS — Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder remembers a then still relatively young Mike Krzyzewski setting up a reel-to-reel film projector.
Snyder was 17 years old and a standout for his high school team in Mercer Island, Washington; and even then he was impressed how the famed Duke coach had dragged that large projector across the country for a home visit.
"It actually apparently fit in the overhead — that's what he told me — and there was a wall in our living room that was a good screen, I guess," Snyder said, recalling the home visit decades ago.
Snyder, who would go on to star as a player and coach at Duke, said he wasn't good enough for anyone to go through that kind of hoopla, let alone a coach who would go on to be considered the best of all time. But that only helped Snyder realize the type of person Krzyzewski was.
Krzyzewski will coach his final game at Duke on Saturday, and with it comes many memories.
"He's been an anchor for so many people," Snyder said, getting a bit choked up. "So many players that have been there, and we've been really lucky to have him to rely on, to rally around. He's just giving so much to everybody — and most of all to his players."
Snyder said he wishes he could be at Cameron Indoor Stadium for Coach K's final game to be part of the celebration for his coach, his colleague and his friend, but the Jazz schedule didn't allow it.
Still, he'll be watching from afar, and he might even send a congratulatory text just like his old coach still does for him.
"He sent me a text just the other day congratulating me on something," Snyder said. "That's who he is."
Nikiel Alexander-Walker returns to New Orleans
For the first time since a pair of trades that sent him to Utah, Nikeil Alexander-Walker returned to the place he spent the first years of his NBA career on Friday.
The little-used Jazz guard played the final seven minutes of New Orleans' blowout of Utah, finishing with 7 points and two rebounds in the game.
"He's a great human being, great soul, great spirit, loves to be around his teammates and just a good overall dude," New Orleans coach Willie Green said. "The Jazz got a great, high-character kid that works his tail off and just wants to be great."
It's been hard for Alexander-Walker to break into the rotation; he's a young developing player on a veteran-heavy team. Still, Green thinks the way he plays and how he was improving could help him in Utah.
"I thought he was showing improvement every month," Green said. "We talked about shooting quality shots, and then he really started to pick up making plays for his teammates. That sacrifice on his behalf allowed him to be that much better. We're wishing him all the best throughout his career and we want to see him do well."
Jazz assistant Dell Demps injured during warm ups
As he helped Udoka Azubuike warm up for Friday's game, Jazz assistant coach Dell Demps went down with an injury. Coach Snyder said Demps tore his patellar tendon.
Demps was the general manager for New Orleans before joining Snyder's staff in Utah.
"I feel for him," Snyder said. "Obviously, making a transition from management to coaching, you have to have a lot of passion for coaching, and he has that. We all feel, myself in particular, lucky to have him on the staff. And the one thing I do know is that he'll get his rehab straight and he'll be back soon."
