A Quote by John Calipari
Kentucky is the best job in basketball coaching. Why would I leave?
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Before I joined the Clippers I played basketball at the University of Kentucky. There the game of basketball is very important. It is important for the fans. There is not a lot to do there so they really support the team. It is hard to describe. The fans, the coaching staff, the basketball program is everything and the kids who go there love it.
We've gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that's why I'm glad I'm not coaching. You see we've got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation and he's still coaching. I really don't understand that.
In the state of Kentucky, all they know is Kentucky basketball. It's the same thing in L.A. They love the Lakers and they expect nothing less but championships.
The challenge of coaching a national side like England would be something different. The job is not about coaching every day.
When you're coaching at Kentucky, you're held to a different standard, and like in politics, there is a core group that absolutely loves you, and everyone else is trying to unseat you in any way they can - anything to trip you up; that's what it is. If you're not up to that, then don't coach at Kentucky.
How would I coach LeBron and Lonzo? Guess what, less coaching is the best coaching. Let them do what they do.
I've had the privilege of coaching the best basketball team in the history of the world, and that's the USA national team. I've had a chance to coach them for eight years. If you were to ask me if I could end my career only coaching one team for the rest of my coaching career, I don't think it could get better than that, especially with the players that I've had during those eight years. When you've coached at that level, you know, you've coached those players, it's pretty hard to say, I would rather coach anybody else.
If I didn't love the game, why would I play at the University of Kentucky? Why would I ever come here? It's a serious program.
There's no truth at all that I would leave United - I want to stay here, and I have no reason to leave. I would like to stay here for life, of course - why not? It's the best club in the world.
Going to Kentucky... it's not really a college experience. You go there for basketball. You get your studies together, but then after that, it's all about basketball.
I was playing division three basketball and I wanted to find a way to work in basketball full-time. The way to do that was not in division three right away; you'd have to be a part-time assistant or whatever. So, I made the decision to transfer to Kentucky. Just so I could get my feet wet and maybe get a job in D-1.
People talk about the Spurs and how we do a decent job at playing basketball. But there is a deeper meaning to who we are, where we come from, and at the same time, why we play basketball.
It's amazing, the things you learn, the experiences you go through, the feeling of being like a rock star that goes with being a University of Kentucky basketball player. Just the ability to feel fame for the first time - that's something Kentucky gives you.
When I was coaching at Kentucky - I was a grad assistant and I just got through playing and we won the NCAA Championship in 1978, so I stayed after I got through playing - we had Japan's national team coach Mototaka Kohama come to Lexington to spend the year and study basketball. He and I became great friends, so we hung out together.
All the Kentucky guys are all close. We all wish the best for each other. Kentucky's a brotherhood.
When I was in college, I was a landscaper. Other than that, coaching has been my life and my job. A lot of people like coaching college, but I would never do it again. There are too many NCAA bylaws, rules and politics.
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