Key Points
Bullet point summary by AI
- John Calipari has coached 41 first-round NBA Draft picks since 2000, an extraordinary feat for any college coach.
- He could add another first-rounder this year as standout guard Darius Acuff Jr. is projected as high as No. 6.
- Calipari’s former players have combined for 44 NBA All-Star appearances and include an MVP, a Finals MVP, and a championship winner.
With the 2026 NBA Draft underway and Darius Acuff Jr. taken by the Kings at No. 7, John Calipari has now produced 42 first-round picks over the course of his career. That, quite simply, is a lot. Well over one per year on average. Some of those have been great picks — Karl-Anthony Towns, Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, etc. etc. Some of them haven't panned out quite as well. Nevertheless, if you played for John Calipari in college, there's a pretty good chance you'll be picked in the first round of the draft.
The transition from Kentucky to Arkansas was bumpy but his second season went a lot better. Heading into year three, his roster is loaded with talent and ready for a deep run — even with Acuff heading to the NBA. And there's a good chance he'll be adding more first-round picks to his coaching resume over the next few years.
Every first-round NBA Draft pick John Calipari has produced since 2000
Player | Pick | Year |
|---|---|---|
Dajuan Wagner | 6 | 2002 |
Shawne Williams | 17 | 2006 |
Derrick Rose | 1 | 2008 |
Tyreke Evans | 4 | 2009 |
John Wall | 1 | 2010 |
DeMarcus Cousins | 5 | 2010 |
Patrick Patterson | 13 | 2010 |
Eric Bledsoe | 18 | 2010 |
Daniel Orton | 29 | 2010 |
Enes Kanter | 3 | 2011 |
Brandon Knight | 8 | 2011 |
Anthony Davis | 1 | 2012 |
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist | 2 | 2012 |
Terrence Jones | 18 | 2012 |
Marquis Teague | 29 | 2012 |
Nerlens Noel | 6 | 2013 |
Archie Goodwin | 29 | 2013 |
Julius Randle | 7 | 2014 |
James Young | 17 | 2014 |
Karl-Anthony Towns | 1 | 2015 |
Willie Cauley-Stein | 6 | 2015 |
Trey Lyles | 12 | 2015 |
Devin Booker | 13 | 2015 |
Jamal Murray | 7 | 2016 |
Skal Labissière | 28 | 2016 |
De'Aaron Fox | 5 | 2017 |
Malik Monk | 11 | 2017 |
Bam Adebayo | 14 | 2017 |
Kevin Knox | 9 | 2018 |
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 11 | 2018 |
PJ Washington | 12 | 2019 |
Tyler Herro | 13 | 2019 |
Keldon Johnson | 29 | 2019 |
Tyrese Maxey | 21 | 2020 |
Immanuel Quickley | 25 | 2020 |
Isaiah Jackson | 22 | 2021 |
Shaedon Sharpe | 7 | 2022 |
TyTy Washington Jr. | 29 | 2022 |
Cason Wallace | 10 | 2023 |
Reed Sheppard | 3 | 2024 |
Rob Dillingham | 8 | 2024 |
Darius Acuff Jr. | 7 | 2026 |
As he moved from Kentucky to Arkansas, 2025 was the first time in 17 years that Calipari didn't product a first round pick. Arkansas forward Adou Thiero was selected with the No. 36 pick and ended up with the Lakers after the pick changed hands several times.
Amari Williams and Koby Brea, who were both recruited by Calipari and played three seasons for him at Kentucky, were the only two Wildcats selected in the 2025 NBA Draft but neither went in the first round. Brea was selected at No. 41 and ended up with the Phoenix Suns. Williams went at No. 46 and ended up with the Celtics.
John Calipari may have kicked off a new streak with Darius Acuff
Guard Darius Acuff Jr., one of the breakout stars of the NCAA Tournament, was ranked as the No. 12 prospect on FanSided's final Big Board and ended up with the Kings. Acuff is a creative guard with good athleticism and a relentless motor, who averaged 23.3 points, 6.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game as a freshman.
He also may not be the only first-round pick for Calipari this year with Meleek Thomas still available. Thomas was ranked No. 28 on final big board.
Before 2025, Calipari had gone 19 consecutive seasons with at least one former player being selected in the first round. Acuff could be the start of a new streak. Two Arkansas players are currently projected as first-round picks for 2027 — shooting guard Jordan Smith Jr. and wing Abdou Toure.
Calipari once produced five first-round NBA Draft picks in a single year
In 12 different drafts, Cal has produced more than one first-round draft pick. But 2010 still stands above all, when five Kentucky Wildcats went in the first round, starting with John Wall at No. 1, and ending with Daniel Orton (who averaged 3.4 points per game at UK) at No. 29.
Two years later, Kentucky went No. 1 and No. 2 in the draft, with Anthony Davis going first overall to New Orleans and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist going right after him to Charlotte. Tough luck.
Many of Calipari's first rounders have reached star status
Combined, Cal's first-round picks have been to 44 All-Star Games — and counting! There are at least 10 more combined ASG appearances between KAT, Book, SGA, Maxey, AD and Sharpe (let a Blazers fan hope).
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the first Cal disciple to win an MVP award, which he captured in 2025 during one of the most memorable single seasons in NBA history. Of course, SGA also won an NBA title and secured Finals MVP. That's like, a basketball triple crown.
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