The Kentucky Wildcats have been shaking the college basketball landscape for years, but the recent headlines are set to cause an unprecedented ripple effect in the coaching carousel. Legendary college basketball coach John Calipari is leaving the Wildcats to take a job with the Arkansas Razorbacks, per multiple reports.
This significant college basketball move could shake up the landscape, even affecting the NBA with Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan rumored to be a serious candidate.
The Sacramento Kings have had a significant amount of former Kentucky players throughout the years, especially those who played under Calipari, including current Kings De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and Trey Lyles. DeMarcus Cousins, one of the greatest Sacramento players ever, also came out of Kentucky.
Cousins, who played one season at Kentucky, went to the “Bully Ball” podcast presented by All The Smoke Productions to give his take on the Wildcats coaching search:
“I think the perfect hire for UK at this point would be Rajon Rondo.” Cousins continued, “I honestly think Rajon would be the perfect guy for this situation. Obviously, he’s a Kentucky kid. He played at Kentucky, he’s an alumni… He understands both sides, probably better than anybody else ever will… I don’t think there’s a better leader to lead Kentucky out of this spot than Rajon Rondo.”
The two Kentucky alumni played a season together in Sacramento and another with the New Orleans Pelicans, as Cousins is likely just being a good friend by putting Rondo in that conversation. Realistically, with no coaching experience, Rondo will not get the Kentucky job, but he ideally could be in consideration for an assistant position.
With his basketball IQ and leadership skills, Rondo would be an ideal basketball coach, but giving him the Kentucky job is unrealistic.
In their lone season together in Sacramento, Cousins averaged 26.9 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, securing one of his four All-Star appearances, while Rondo averaged a league-high 11.7 assists.
While Rondo would likely not get the Kentucky position, his entry into the coaching field is inevitable.
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Source link : https://www.si.com/nba/kings/demarcus-cousins-hot-take-kentucky-coaching-search
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Publish date : 2024-04-09 03:00:00
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