Rumors linking John Calipari to NBA coaching jobs are an annual occurrence, but one of the Kentucky coach’s former star players does not believe the speculation will ever become more than just that.
ESPN’s Jeff Goodman asked DeMarcus Cousins on Tuesday if he believes Calipari will ever coach at the NBA level again. Because Calipari has such a good thing going at Kentucky, Cousins seriously doubts it.
I asked DeMarcus Cousins yesterday whether he thought his former college coach John Calipari would ever coach in the NBA again: "I don't think so. He's in a position to walk into the sunset. He's in the perfect place."
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) January 17, 2018
However, if Calipari did decide that he wants to tackle the NBA again, Cousins believes he would be more prepared this time around.
Cousins added he thinks, partially due to coaching all the one-and-dones, that Cal would be much better equipped now than the first time around. "He was young. You live and learn. He's dealt with all types of personnel, future pros -and that's prepared himself to deal with pros." https://t.co/RVurKOXXLo
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) January 17, 2018
Calipari was fired in his third season as the coach of the New Jersey Nets in 1999. He took the team to the playoffs one time and finished with an overall record of 72-112. Much like Nick Saban’s tenure with the Miami Dolphins, Calipari’s time coaching in the pros is viewed as a failure, and many believe he wants to give it another shot before retiring.
The more time that passes, the less likely it seems that Calipari will coach in the NBA again. We have heard reports about him possibly returning to the pro ranks in a different capacity, but that also seems unlikely. Calipari has everything he could ever need and want at Kentucky, and he will go down as one of the greatest coaches in NCAA basketball history when all is said and done.
