ARLINGTON, Texas — As soon as John Calipari was on the podium following the NCAA championship game, he was asked about yet another story linking him to an NBA job.
“The Lakers have a basketball coach,” Calipari said following Kentucky’s 60-54 loss to UConn at the AT&T Center. “Kentucky has a basketball coach. I have the best job in the country.”
He added: “I’m not going to even dignify that stuff.”
Just minutes before the game tipped, Rex Chapman set Twitter afire with a Tweet suggesting that Calipari will be the next coach of the Lakers.
“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,” he Tweeted.
After getting hammered on Twitter by Big Blue Nation, Chapman added, “I don’t live in some dream world & have alwys called it straight. Alwys will. Let’s not 4get, 6-wks ago many in BBN would’ve walked Cal 2 LA.”
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has since denied the report.
“I spoke to (Kupchak) and he said there is no truth to it,” Lakers spokesman John Black said according to Sam Amick. “Mike (D’Antoni) is our coach and there have been no conversations that have discussed any specific names about anyone to replace him.”
The storyline served as a huge backdrop to the game.
Calipari is a former Nets coach who has previously been linked to the Knicks because of his CAA connections.
But conspiracy theories here have LeBron James potentially joining Calipari in Los Angeles.
Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua is leaving to become head coach at South Florida and several of the Kentucky players are expected to head to the NBA Draft — with Julius Randle a projected top-5 pick. Will Calipari join him in the NBA?
Stay tuned.
