No college basketball coach has a better reputation of getting players drafted into in the NBA than John Calipari. According to Calipari’s official website, he has coached 39 players that have been selected in the NBA Draft.
There is a good chance that number could jump up by at least three with De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Bam Adebayo all expected to get drafted in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft.
Four of these players were number one draft picks. Derrick Rose, John Wall, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns were all top picks in their respective draft classes.
While Calipari has spent the majority of his career coaching college basketball, he was an NBA head coach for a little over two seasons for the New Jersey Nets from 1996-99.
In an interview with Bleacher Report, Calipari gave his starting five players he has coached at Kentucky.
“Well, Anthony Davis. John Wall. Karl Towns. I’d probably play DeMarcus Cousins and let Anthony be a 3. And what would the last position be? Shooting guard? I’d probably say Devin Booker,” Calipari told Bleacher Report.
Prior to Kentucky’s Elite Eight matchup with UCLA, Calipari spoke about his philosophy to embrace the so-called “one-and-done” players who plan on only staying at Kentucky for one year.
You know, I’ve been blessed. I’ve had — how many parents have said, almost in tears, I’m giving you my child. This is our opportunity for our family. And it’s just the stuff that we do. Why do you always go to the green room? It’s graduation day. Do you go to your child’s graduation or do you say I can’t go there because they’ll see me there. What? This is their graduation. I’m going to be there. And I’m going to be at the table, and I’m going to hug them and I’m going to laugh with them, and their parents get to breathe for the first time. They get to breathe. And I see it, and I’m there.
Here’s a list of some the top NBA players who have played for Coach Cal. Click here for all 39 players.
Jamal Murray (Nuggets-7th)
Karl Anthony Towns (Timberwolves- 1st pick)
Willie Cauley-Stein (Kings-6th pick)
Devin Booker (Suns-13th)
Julius Randle (Lakers-7th)
Nerlens Noel (Pelicans-traded to Sixers-6th)
Anthony Davis (Pelicans-1st)
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Hornets-2nd)
Enes Kanter (Jazz-3rd)
Brandon Knight (Suns-8th)
John Wall (Wizards-1st)
DeMarcus Cousins (Pelicans-5th)
Eric Bledsoe (Suns-18th)
Tyreke Evans (Kings-4th)
Derrick Rose (Bulls-1st) *Played at Memphis
DaJuan Wagner (Cavs-6th) *Played at Memphis
Marcus Camby (Raptors-2nd)*Played at UMass
