John Calipari Slams NBA Coaching Rumor: 'I Am Not Negotiating With ANYBODY'
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There is currently a $120 million question lingering around the NBA these days. And, it revolves around one of the most decorated college hoops coach and his possible jump to the big league.
Yahoo Sport's Adrian Wojnarowski wrote on Jan. 11, 2016 about a report revealing the desire of Brooklyn Nets' CEO Brett Yormark to hire Kentucky coach John Calipari for the recently vacated coaching job for the team. But, just a day after the report was published, The master bench tactician from Lexington slammed the idea of him leaving what he deemed as the "best coaching job" today.
"You may have heard me say this before: I absolutely have the best coaching job in sports and I plan on being at Kentucky for a long time," Calipari posted on his Twitter account. "I am not negotiating with ANYBODY. My total focus is on this team and winning the next game."
During the Southeastern Conference coaches' teleconference, Calipari addressed the rumors regarding his possible return to the NBA and explained why he thinks his current stint with the University of Kentucky is the best coaching job in sports, the Courier-Journal reported.
"Anytime you can have a championship culture, anytime you can be in the hunt for championships or in this case in college in recruiting, you have one of the best jobs," he said.
"You don't have to put fans in the seats, you don't have to raise money. Just coach basketball. It's a great job, and one that I appreciate having and am humbled to be here."
Wojnarowski reported that for the UK coach to consider the Nets' coaching job, the team has to meet his asking price of 10 years and $120 million. Back in 2014, he turned down the Cleveland Cavaliers' offer for the same position to the tune of 10-year, $80 million-plus offer.
As for the Nets offer, it would be a long shot for Calipari to leave the campus for Brooklyn. CBS Sports wrote that the only way for the man to accept a coaching job is when he can have a complete control of the team and if the team is capable of a run at the championships.
With the present status of the Nets, just making the playoffs this year is already shooting the moon for the franchise that has also given away its first-round picks in 2016 or 2018, and possibly 2017. As Wojnarowski puts it, this Brooklyn Nets team has "no present, no future, no identity." In all likelihood, it won't have the man from Lexington as its head coach.