NBA Rumors: John Calipari says multiple NBA teams approached him
By Josh Hill
One of the biggest names on the NBA coaching scene at the moment is actually a name that won’t be hopping to the pros anytime soon. John Calipari decided to leave big money with the Cleveland Cavaliers on the table in order to return to Kentucky to remain as coach of the Wildcats.
More from Cleveland Cavaliers
- NBA insider: Cavaliers should consider trading Donovan Mitchell
- Predicting NBA’s Christmas Day Schedule: Lakers, Warriors highlight slate of postseason rematches
- NBA Rumors: 3 teams that should trade for Joel Embiid
- NBA rumors: How Donovan Mitchell could wind up on the trading block
- The new NBA flopping rules explained
But while the Cavs made waves by reportedly offering Calipari everything expect to right to rename the team, the coach says that they weren’t the only NBA team to approach him with interest in prying him away from the school he led to thenational championship this past season.
According to Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News, Calipari says he was approached by not only the Cleveland Cavaliers but multiple NBA teams before deciding to sign an extension with the Kentucky Wildcats.
"Kentucky coach John Calipari acknowledged he was approached by multiple NBA teams after leading the Wildcats to the 2014 NCAA Championship game, but he insisted his commitment to UK is reflected in his ultimate decision.“It was significantly more money for me to leave than to stay,” Calipari told Kentucky Sports Radio guest host Gregg Doyel. “It kind of tells you where my mind is.”"
Calipari isn’t someone you’d say has a great track record in the NBA which is why he’s likely holding out for the right job in which very little rebuilding or actual NBA grunt work will need to be done. There’s a lot of that in Cleveland — so much so that $80 million wasn’t enough to convince Calipari to sign on.
The Cavs will find a head coach and it’s a virtual certainty that Calipari at least entertains a leap to the NBA again, just don’t expect the teas who failed to convince him to come over to be high on his list.