PHOTO: Kobe Bryant in attendance to cheer on Coach K

Real recognize real.

Kobe Bryant showed up to support his Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski ahead of No. 4 Duke's Sweet 16 showdown with No. 1 Oregon. He and his wife Vanessa had a seat near the Krzyzewski family.

Bryant and Krzyzewski won two Olympic gold medals together in 2008 and 2012 with Team USA. But even prior to teaming up, Bryant was a noted admirer of Krzyzewski, as he tried to recruit him to coach the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.

"I was more than tempted," said Krzyzewski on Sunday according to The Los Angeles Times' Chris Dufresne. "I seriously considered it. One, because it was the Lakers. Mitch is great. It would have been an opportunity to work with Kobe. He and I are very close. I guess because I did not accept it, it really speaks to, you know, how much I love Duke and college basketball, but especially Duke."