A streak that saw a lot of UK players achieve their NBA dreams.
NBA Draft night had become a night that the BBN was very familiar with. Despite your feelings on the matter, over the last decade-plus under John Calipari, former Kentucky Wildcats have taken the league by storm, especially those who were called in the first round.
In fact, the Cats had a first-round pick in every draft since 2010, the longest streak in the modern draft era (since 1966), but that came to an end Wednesday night, along with another historic streak set by Calipari.
Coach Cal had a first-round draft pick in 17 straight years, dating back to his time with Memphis and then Kentucky, but that’s history now. Kentucky’s streak was the longest among active programs, while Calipari’s streak was the most among active head coaches. He had a decent chance of extending it with former Wildcat Adou Thiero, who drew some first-round projections. Instead, Thiero will now look to hear his name called in Round 2.
However, you may feel about Coach Cal, it is undeniable that the amount of talent he has coached is impressive. From superstars like Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis to 4-star recruits like Tyler Herro and NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Coach Cal played a part in getting these former Wildcats to the league.
Now, let’s see if Mark Pope can find the right balance of winning big while also getting guys to the pros. He’s certainly off to a great start on the former after a fantastic debut season.