Mike Krzyzewski expects LeBron James to play for the U.S. Olympic team.

Again balancing coaching duties between the U.S. and Duke, Krzyzewski also confirmed Thursday that guard Andre Dawkins would redshirt this season for the Blue Devils.

Speaking less than two weeks before the candidates for the Olympic team begin practice in Las Vegas, Krzyzewski said he’s deep into his preparations. While it’s not certain yet who will be going to London, he said matter-of-factly that “I know LeBron will play.”

“I’m proud of LeBron and where he’s at right now, and I do think that when you’re that great a player, that great a talent, that you learn openly,” Krzyzewski added. “You don’t go learn in private. You’re out there while you’re learning, and while you’re learning, you’re going to be criticized for the things that you’re in the process of learning. … There’s some things you cannot learn unless you’re in that moment. Like, you can’t rehearse it.

“You can’t feel it until you’re in the moment of a finals, a gold medal game, a seventh game, a national championship. He’s been in two of those moments, and I think he’s shown in this series that he’s learned from those moments.”

via The Associated Press