NBA Rumors: Why John Calipari Will Never Return to NBA Sidelines

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NBA Rumors: Why John Calipari Will Never Return to NBA Sidelines
Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Kentucky head coach John Calipari isn't exactly one to take at his word.

Just ask the University of Memphis, who he left high and dry for his current position of head coach of the Wildcats.

He's moved on to different challenges throughout his coaching career, but the latest has him pursuing another attempt in the NBA.

The NBA would be tempting for a guy like Calipari, who after finally getting a championship on his resume, doesn't really have much left to accomplish as a coach in college. He has that ring and a 505-151 (.770) career record. That number would be even more impressive if Calipari wasn't forced to vacate 42 career wins while at both U Mass and Memphis.

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Yet in three seasons with the New Jersey Nets, Calipari only posted a 72-112 (.391) mark and was fired after his third season.

If a team with talent, such as the New York Knicks came calling, you would think it may be worth listening to.

Yet Kentucky fans have nothing to worry about. You won't see Calipari ever again on an NBA sideline.

First of all, why would he?

He's got the best job in college basketball. It's Kentucky. He's fresh off a national championship, and he basically gets any player he wants.

Calipari tried to shoot down the NBA rumors before they get out of control, writing the following on

I’m not going anywhere. I have the best job in the country. Why would I leave after we’ve just won a national title? We’re trying to catch UCLA, folks. I have been blessed. I’ve got more money than I’m ever going to need or my family can spend, so I don’t have to make a decision based on finances.

He makes a good point about money. He paid handsomely and won't make much more in the NBA.

The main reason he will stay at Kentucky, though, is that he's a coach.

In college. he's allowed to coach young players. He's allowed to make them better both on and off the court. He does that and he enjoys it.

How would he deal with the antics of superstars like Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum that we've seen this season?

Calipari doesn't want any part of that.

In the NBA, the inmates still run the asylum. He's coaching egos and not players. Look at how the New York Knicks quit playing for Mike D'Antoni earlier in the season. In the NBA, a coach will always be expendable when dealing with superstars.

In college, coaching still matters.

That's what Calipari does best, and that's where he belongs.

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