ARLINGTON, Texas — The John Calipari to the NBA rumors are heating up again.
Before eighth-seeded Kentucky fell to No. 7 UConn 60-54 in Monday night’s national championship at AT&T Stadium, former Wildcats star Rex Chapman tweeted Calipari was headed to Los Angeles to coach the Lakers, win or lose.
“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,” the former NBA guard tweeted.
Calipari has repeatedly said this season he isn’t interested in coaching at the next level, preferring to stay at Kentucky, where he has led the Wildcats to the championship two of the last three years after winning it all in 2012 and recruited at an elite level, landing five consecutive No. 1 recruiting classes. He reiterated his stance Monday night.
“The Lakers have a basketball coach. Kentucky has a basketball coach,” Calipari said after the loss. “I’m not going to even dignify that stuff.”
Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart wouldn’t directly comment on Chapman’s tweet, but did say: “It’s not even a question he’s been absolutely focused on what we’ve been doing in this tournament. I love the way he represents Kentucky and our program. He’s been a great ambassador for us.”
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told the Los Angeles Times the “rumor is untrue.”
This isn’t the first time Calipari has been linked to an NBA job since his failed three-year stint with the Nets from 1996-99. In fact, he was reportedly being eyed by the Knicks in early March.