Every year after March Madness we ask if any of the great coaches will take the plunge and go to the NBA. This year the main target was Kentucky’s John Calipari. For weeks there were speculation of Cal going to the NBA and it all ended up in Cal committing with UK.
As it turns out. It wasn’t even close for Calipari as he says to USA Today.
“Now, obviously coaching at Kentucky is special. It is unique and special. But this, for me, becomes about these kids. I have no desire, nor am I out looking for (jobs). I got the job. I got the job. What would move me to stay was these kids need me here. That’s what I’m doing. At the end of the day, that was what (kept him at UK). It wasn’t money.”
Kentucky gave him plenty of that with a deal through 2021 worth $52.5 million.
That’s some significant dough, especially for a College Basketball Coach. Now onto how easy it was for him to go back to Lexington.
But James, who Calipari has said he’d love to coach, had not made his decision at that point.
Would that have made a difference?
“No. No. I don’t think so. Because he and I have a great relationship, but it’s not based on me coaching him,” Calipari said. “We’ve got a relationship. I’ve known him for years and years. We’ve always been friends. But it was never based on that. I’ve said that. I’ve had a chance to coach Derrick Rose, John Wall and DeMarcus (Cousins), Anthony Davis and Michael (Kidd-Gilchrist). And I’m leaving names off, but I’ve coached some of the best players in basketball, and it is a thrill. There’s nothing better than that. Especially when those guys are all good guys.”
“Well, LeBron is also that kind of player and that kind of person. But again, leaving guys who made decisions based on what’s right for their career was something I couldn’t have gotten by anyway.“
Take in the fact that he is coaching Kentucky. Kentucky! He coaches future stars every year! Sure none of them are LeBron but I’m sure every coach in the NBA and NCAA would happily coach LeBron. But not everyone can get that luxury and Coach Cal knows that.
