Arkansas head basketball coach John Calipari has built a reputation as one of the premier recruiters and most successful coaches in college basketball. He began his coaching career in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets before making his mark in the college ranks at UMass, Memphis, Kentucky, and now Arkansas. His tenure at Kentucky was particularly iconic, highlighted by a National Championship in 2012 and the development of numerous future NBA stars.
John Calipari brought a steady stream of elite talent to Kentucky during his time there, and he’s aiming to do the same at Arkansas. At 66, he still has plenty of energy and passion for the game, with several coaching years likely ahead of him. Already enshrined in the Hall of Fame, another NCAA Tournament title would cement his status among the greatest coaches in college basketball history.
On Thursday, ahead of Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals, Calipari appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and spoke about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, one of his former Kentucky standouts. During the interview, he couldn’t help but drop a humble brag about the massive earnings his former players have racked up in the NBA—a testament to his ability to develop pro-level talent.
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