The Time Is Right For John Calipari, LeBron James
A little over a year ago, current Kentucky basketball Head Coach John Calipari said, “I want to be here. This is where I want to coach, and my name will be tied to every job that’s open, and our fans I think have gotten used to it.”
A week later, he was signing one of the richest deals in college basketball coaching history with the Kentucky Wildcats.
There is no denying the man’s recruiting and coaching ability; however, the way by which he recruits his players may be questioned by many. Calipari has left his last two programs with allegations and sanctions levied against them.
After leading UMass to a Final Four in 1996, his best player Marcus Camby was ruled ineligible and the wins from that season had to be vacated.
Just two years ago, Memphis lost a thrilling game to Kansas in the National Championship only to have the accomplishments from that season vacated due to academic fraud issues involving Derrick Rose.
Based on Calipari's record, it may only be a matter of time before information surfaces detailing illegal activity taking place at Kentucky.
Kentucky just had a great season, led by a plethora of freshman that Calipari recruited and brought in himself. The team fell short in the NCAA tournament, but there was no doubt the talent was there. Now with almost all of that team leaving to the NBA, it might be time for Coach Cal to take the leap back to The League again.
Granted UK has a great recruiting class coming in, it still takes time to reload, and there is a certain someone in the NBA who will be entering free agency in a little over a month.
That someone is LeBron James, a great friend of Calipari.
Rumors have been circling about a possible “package deal” involving the best player in the NBA, and one of the best coaches in the collegiate level.
From an outsider’s point of view I think it would be ludicrous for Calipari not to team up with LeBron.
How can a coach of Calipari’s stature not want to team up with the best player in the NBA, in his prime , and potentially win multiple NBA championships?
Calipari has had one short stint in the NBA, and it did not go over so well.
He coached a little over two years before being dismissed. That team was not one that had star power.
If he went to the NBA and coached LeBron, the team would be an instant title contender regardless of which team —based solely on James’ ability as the best in the game.
Cleveland fans were provided with a surprise as Cal was sitting right behind the Cavaliers' bench, next to none other than LeBron James’ agent.
Was this just a mere coincidence that Calipari was watching the demise of soon to be former Cavaliers coach Mike Brown, or was it a tell-tale sign of things to come?
Whether it is in Cleveland, Chicago, New York, or some other NBA city, I think LeBron and Calipari should team up —the likes of which could create a reign of terror on professional basketball for the next ten years.
