"He was more than just a coach to us": Karl-Anthony Towns expresses enduring loyalty for former Kentucky HC John Calipari
Karl-Anthony Towns, a Minnesota Timberwolves forward, paid his tribute to coach John Calipari, for whom he played for a year at Kentucky. Calipari led the Wildcats to the NCAA Final Four along with SEC tournament and regular-season titles.
Like many, Towns was in disbelief when he heard about Calipari leaving Lexington for Arkansas in April. The four-time NBA All Star has a close and respectable relationship with Calipari, regardless of where he coaches.
Speaking with ESPN's Paul Finebaum this week, Towns shared his thoughts on John Calipari's decision to leave Kentucky.
"It’s weird," Towns said. "It’s gonna be weird not seeing him on the sidelines at Rupp Arena, but I think for all the players before, I think I speak for them when I say he’s our coach.
"He was more than just a coach to us with UK on his chest. He was like a father to us. We all got so much respect and love for Cal. We just want to see him in life do amazing things, for sure."
Karl-Anthony Towns also made it clear that he will support coach Cal but will always be loyal to Kentucky, the place where he evolved into the professional player he's today.
"From my point — and I told him, as well — I bleed blue," he said. "I’m always going to be about UK, I’m always going to be about Kentucky. I’m always going to be a Wildcat for life.
"We’ve got an amazing new coach, as well, and I think he set our program up for success for years and years to come. Thanks to Cal, UK is going to continue being the blue-chip program."
Karl-Anthony Towns says his time at Kentucky was the best of his career
Karl-Anthony Towns was the first overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft and has been in the league for nearly a decade. He has also earned several accolades, including four All Star, NBA Rookie of the Year, and has accumulated 13,121 career points.
However, none of those seasons in the NBA shine as brightly as his lone year at Kentucky.
"When you talk about BBN, Big Blue Nation, you’ve got the best fans in all of college basketball. Playing at Kentucky, being in Rupp Arena, those magical moments, playing basketball at its highest level in college basketball, it brings me joy," Towns told Finebaun.
"In a way, Cal made the NBA run through Kentucky ... It’s a brotherhood, he really made it a brotherhood."
Karl-Anthony Towns also reflected on the time spent with his teammates, Booker, Tyler Ulis and Trey Lyles, saying that those were the best basketball moments of his career.