Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari is among the most accomplished in the sport. His elite coaching and ability to develop talent are evident throughout the basketball world.
This was brought front and center Wednesday night when he was spotted courtside at Madison Square Garden for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Knicks and Pacers. He was there, supporting his former Kentucky standout, Karl-Anthony Towns. and plans to take a trip to watch other former players in the Western Conference Finals.
John Calipari Gets Opportunity To Watch Former Players in NBA Playoffs
Despite the losing effort, Karl Anthony-Towns had himself a great night on the floor. The former Wildcat scored 35 points on 17 shots, while also snatching 12 rebounds in 39 minutes of play.
At the Knicks game tonight. Have to go see OKC/Minnesota next week. Always support my guys! pic.twitter.com/3jRxQx59Cc
— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) May 22, 2025
Towns is now a ten-year veteran in the NBA, spending the first nine years of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he was drafted. He’s a five-time all-star, won the 2016 Rookie of the Year, and has made two All-NBA third teams.
In his lone year at Kentucky, “KAT” became an All-SEC and consensus All-American player. The only collegiate game he ever lost was the national semifinal against Wisconsin.
Towns, however, was not the only Kentucky alum in NBA news circles today. The NBA recently announced Oklahoma City Thunder G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the league’s Most Valuable Player. “SGA” won the award with 71 first-place votes and 29 second-place votes, beating out Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic.
When the league announced the winner, Calipari expressed jubilation for his former player. “I’m so proud of Shai,” he said on X. “He earned the MVP through his work, competitive spirit, championship demeanor, along with being a GREAT TEAMMATE!!! Congrats @/shaiglalex.”
SGA only played one year at Kentucky, but he averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 assists in that one year, which netted him All-SEC honors and even the SEC Tournament MVP.
The Hornets took him 11th overall in the NBA draft, traded him to the Clippers that night, and then traded him again after his rookie season to the Thunder, where he has ascended to stardom.
The Arkansas men’s basketball X account reposted their HC’s statement on SGA and stated that he had now produced two MVP-winning guards as a college coach.
Coach Cal has produced an NBA MVP guard at his last two coaching stops 👀
2011: Derrick Rose
2025: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander https://t.co/JysVUxDzKM— Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball 🐗 (@RazorbackMBB) May 22, 2025
Former Memphis superstar Derrick Rose became the first such player when he won the MVP in 2011. But with the changing landscape of college basketball, can Calipari create the same level of NBA talent, let alone MVPs?
RELATED: Top 10 Highest-Paid Men’s Basketball Coaches: Bill Self, John Calipari Pace the Field
It’s tough to say. Getting to the league is hard, getting drafted is even harder, and winning MVP is a comparative pipedream.
However, Calipari has proven his mettle when it comes to producing pro-level talent, and he has shown that he will support any player that he’s coached, no matter how long he actually coached them.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
