UPDATE (9:36 PM PT): In a one-on-one interview with ESPN, John Calipari says he’ll absolutely be at Kentucky next season according to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters:
John Calipari just now in an @ESPN one on one interview says he'll "Absolutely" be at Kentucky next year. Loves his job.
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) April 8, 2014
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John Calipari is one of the most successful college coaches of this generation. He has led the Kentucky Wildcats to three Final Four appearances in the last four years and one national championship.
He has also sent a number of players to the NBA including New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, and Washington Wizards point guard John Wall.
There have been recent rumors about Calipari becoming the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers next season. Calipari denied those rumors in a press conference on ESPN after his team’s loss in tonight’s national championship game:
Calipari on latest Lakers rumor “I’m not even going to dignify that stuff.” (On @espn)
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) April 8, 2014
Calipari denying these rumors should come as no surprise, especially in the immediate aftermath of a loss in a championship game. His focus right now is likely on consoling his young players after their season ended in disappointment.
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Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak also denied having any contact with Calipari about coaching the Lakers and despite rumors to the contrary, it is no guarantee that the Lakers will fire Mike D’Antoni after this season.
Calipari had a mostly underwhelming stint as head coach of the New Jersey Nets from 1996-1999 and many experts have always believed that he would want to redeem himself in the NBA at some point.
However, Calipari does have one of the most attractive jobs in all of college basketball, and he will never have to worry about job security if he was to stay at the University of Kentucky.
The lure of the NBA can be attractive to some however, and if the Lakers were to have a head coaching vacancy, Calipari would at least have to consider it.
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VIDEO: Lakers Rumors – John Calipari To The Lakers? Are The Lakers Leaning Towards Parting Ways With Mike D’Antoni?
