Turns out, John Calipari’s destruction of the Nets was worse than you thought.
The Kentucky basketball coach spent three years in New Jersey before being fired in 1999 with a 3-17 season record. He returned to college basketball with a tenured NBA record of 72-112 -- a record Dirk Nowitzki would have alleviated.
Kentucky Not The Favorite To Win NCAA Title
Calipari just wasn’t smart enough to realize it.
“I went over [to Germany]. I was the coach and president -- or whatever I was with the Nets -- and I went over to watch him and I said, ‘He’s really good, but I have to see him more,’” Calipari said on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “I wasn’t totally sold.”
John Calipari Not Welcomed Back To Memphis
“So, I’ve missed.”
Missed?
No. John Starks missed in Game 6 of the 1994 NBA Finals. LeBron James missed in Game 2 of the 2015 NBA Finals.
You whiffed.
Nowitzki would eventually be drafted by the Mavericks in 1998. One NBA Finals MVP, four All-NBA First Team nominations and 13 All-Star appearances later, the 37-year-old is reaching the end of his illustrious career.
It could be worse, though.
Calipari could’ve whiffed on a future first-round pick that would eventually eliminate him in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.
Except he did that too.
“I watched [Kemba Walker] play in high school. I said he’s not big enough for me,” Calipari added. “And I’m not sure how good he is.”
Good enough to finish with 18 points and seven assists in a 56-55 victory.
Even the masters get it wrong sometimes.
For more content, follow us on Twitter @SportsWN or LIKE US on Facebook
.@UKCoachCalipari reveals his two biggest recruiting/drafting misses. #TheHerd https://t.co/aS85U9LsCl
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) December 2, 2015
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.