Top 3 players John Calipari produced who made it big in NBA
Iconic basketball coach John Calipari began his head coaching career at UMass in 1985 before moving to the NBA with the New Jersey Nets in 1996. He would eventually return to college basketball with Memphis, Kentucky and now Arkansas, beginning in 2024.
Numerous NBA players began their basketball journey under John Calipari and have gone on to have tremendous success. Here is a closer look at three of the top players who made it big in the NBA following their college careers under coach Calipari.
Top 3 players John Calipari produced who made it big in the NBA
#3 Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose played one season under John Calipari at Memphis during the 2007–08 season. Rose averaged 14.9 points as a freshman under Calipari along with 4.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists. Rose's future success in the NBA was foreshadowed at Memphis, earning several accolades, including All-CUSA and CUSA Rookie of the Year awards.
Calipari and Rose would finish with a 38-2 overall record during their only season together. Memphis would make it to the national championship before falling to Kansas in overtime, 75-68.
In the 2008 NBA Draft, Rose was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the first overall pick. Rose's success under John Calipari translated directly into the NBA, where he won NBA Rookie of the Year, averaging 16.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.3 assists as a member of the Bulls.
He was named NBA MVP during the 2010–11 season at 22 years and five months old, making him the youngest player to win the MVP award in league history. Despite having suffered numerous injuries during his career, he is a three-time All-Star and has played in the league for 17 seasons.
#2 Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker played one season at Kentucky under head coach John Calipari during the 2014–15 season. He came off the bench on a loaded Kentucky roster but still averaged 10.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists on his way to earning SEC All-Freshman and All-SEC honors.
The Wildcats finished with a 38-1 overall record during Booker's only season under John Calipari, with their only loss coming to top-ranked Wisconsin in the Final Four. After declaring for the 2015 NBA Draft, Booker was chosen by the Phoenix Suns with the 13th overall pick.
Booker was immediately made NBA-ready by Calipari, as he was a member of the 2015–16 NBA All-Rookie team and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting. The nine-year NBA veteran is a four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA and finished as high as fourth in MVP voting during the 2021–22 season.
#1 Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis was another player who only needed one season at Kentucky under John Calipari before having massive success in the NBA. Davis was a top-ranked freshman recruit at Kentucky during the 2011–12 season and started in all 40 games for the team that season.
He averaged a double-double as a freshman with 14.2 points and 10.4 rebounds while shooting over 62% from the field. Kentucky finished the season 38-2 and won Calipari his first NCAA championship. He also led the NCAA in blocked shots and was named the AP Player of the Year.
Once again, Calipari's guidance helped prepare Davis for the NBA, as the first overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft would finish second in Rookie of the Year voting. He was a member of the All-Rookie Team and is a nine-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA.
Davis finished as high as third in MVP voting during the 2017–18 season and played a key role in helping lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 2020 NBA Finals victory.
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