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Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski speaks out in powerful Black Lives Matter video

Mike Krzyzewski, one of the most respected voices in college basketball, made a powerful plea on Friday to end systemic racism and social injustice.

The Duke coach, who has more wins in the history of Division I basketball than any other men's coach, became the latest high-profile figure in sports to speak in support of Black Lives Matter in the wake of the killing of George Floyd last month and the weeks of protests that have followed.

Krzyzewski asked people to recognize Black Lives Matter as a human rights statement, not a political one. He urged understanding of the ways racism has manifested itself in our country for centuries, and he asked people to do something about it.

Krzyzewski, who played basketball at Army from 1966-69 and went on to coach at his alma mater before coming to Duke, referenced his West Point background and the cadet prayer as he closed out his video.

Krzyzewski, a seven-time national coach of the year, has led the Blue Devils to five NCAA championships and 1,084 wins in his Duke coaching career, which began in the 1980-81 season. Coach K has also guided Team USA to Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016 and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001.

Here is the full transcript of the video:

"Black Lives Matter. Say it. Can't you say it? Black Lives Matter. We should be saying it every day. It's not political. This is not a political statement. It's a human rights statement. It's a fairness statement. Over the last couple months, I have had an opportunity to see more, to listen more, to think more and to understand at a deeper level. So have you, so have you. 


"We see that. And what we do when we see that, we talk but we turn the other way. We don't solve the problem. The problem will not be solved, and no problem is solved, unless you acknowledge the problem. Acknowledge it. If you acknowledge it, you have the duty to solve it. We as a country have the duty to solve this problem.
