The Kentucky Wildcats' NCAA Championship game was still hours away when Rex Chapman looked to rain on their potential parade and play the role of major scoop breaker.
The former Kentucky Wildcat and NBA player tweeted the following shocking statement:
Was messin' 'round on Sat nite re: Cal. But word is - win or lose 2nite - it's a #DoneDeal ...Cal 2 La-La-Land 2 coach Mamba's Lakers. #NoBS
— Rex Chapman (@rexchapman) April 7, 2014
The Los Angeles Times reported that the Los Angeles Lakers acted swiftly to refute the rumor. "I spoke to [General Manager] Mitch Kupchak and he said the rumor is untrue," Lakers spokesman John Black said. "Mike D'Antoni is our coach. There have been no conversations about any specific names for any replacement."
Calipari himself refused to "dignify" the question with a response after the game, according to q.usatoday.com.
Calipari: Lakers have a basketball coach, Kentucky has a basketball coach. I have best job in the country. I'm not going to dignify that. — Gerry Ahern (@USATGerryAhern) April 8, 2014
The Kentucky alum who played professionally for the original Charlotte Hornets, the Phoenix Suns, the Miami Heat and the Washington Bullets, received backlash after his tweet, but fired back.> Later in the evening, however, Chapman sent out another tweet backing away slightly from his original Cal-to-Lakers tweet.
Take your pick re: Cal.'s future. One, he's gone to LA. Two, if they call - he's definitely listening. Both very credible sources. #potluck — Rex Chapman (@rexchapman) April 8, 2014
Calipari, who led Wildcats to the national championship in 2012 and just missed out on his second title Monday night with a 60-54 loss to Connecticut, has previous coaching experience in the NBA. But it's not nearly as impressive as his college resumé.
Calipari went 72-112 in two-plus seasons with the New Jersey Nets, according to Fox Sports. Calipari led the Nets to one playoff appearance and was fired 20 games into his third season after compiling a 3-17 record.
Fox Sports added that the aforementioned Mamba, Kobe Bryant, might have a strong opinion about Calipari, who drafted Kerry Kittles in the 1996 NBA Draft when Bryant was still available.
According to CBS Sports, however, Calipari said taking Kittles was not his decision.
It's likely Chapman didn't make up the rumor out of thin air, despite the Lakers' denials, so the question becomes how credible the sources are that have talked to him.
And make no mistake: Calipari's name right now has an infinitely greater impact in Los Angeles as D'Antoni's name does right now.
Do you think John Calipari would be a good fit for the Los Angeles Lakers? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.
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