John Calipari denies rumor he'll leave Kentucky to coach the Lakers
Former NBA player Rex Chapman, who currently works as a broadcaster for his alma mater Kentucky, sent out this tweet just before last night's national championship game:
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
After his Wildcats fell to Connecticut, Kentucky coach John Calipari was asked about the rumor during the postgame press conference. He said:
The Lakers have a basketball coach, Kentucky has a basketball coach. I have best job in the country. I'm not going to dignify that.
ESPN reports that the Lakers are also denying the story as well, and that Chapman has since backed off from his remarks:
"No. I'm right [here] at Kentucky," Calipari told ESPN's Jeannine Edwards. "I got the best job. I've got a good group of kids. Love what I'm doing. Speculation? That's there every year I coach."
Chapman joined "The Dan Patrick Show" on Tuesday to clarify his remarks, saying he now believes Calipari is likely to stay with the Wildcats. He also said Calipari could be bargaining to get more money from Kentucky.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak also told the Los Angeles Times the Calipari rumor was "untrue."
Calipari would be crazy not to listen if the Lakers inquire about his services. But after an unsuccessful NBA stint with the Nets in the late 90's, he may well be uninterested in/afraid of another possible failure.
Follow Mark Vandeusen on twitter @LucidSportsFan