John Calipari knows a lot about winning basketball, and he knows the Knicks have a long way to go.
But the Kentucky coach is rooting for her rebuilding, and rooting for her to bring a title back to the Garden. And he emphasizes that his now ex-assistant Kenny Payne Tom Thibodeau can help bring someone down.
‘I want the Knicks to win, and I want the Knicks to compete for a championship, and I want the Knicks to win a championship, OK? My superiority at this point is Kenny Payne; that’s like my brother, “Calipari said at a conference on Wednesday, adding Payne deserved a college head coaching shot and he would recommend him as his successor for the plum UK post.
‘I just wanted to make sure that … Kenny understood that he was leaving a great situation here. He paid a lot of money here, the highest paid in college basketball. Now all of a sudden he’s coming to the Knicks, and it’s going to be a build. But here are his strengths; how are you going to use him? And Thibs was on point. He went point-to-point. … He knew why he wanted him on his wand. ”
The Knicks have not won a title since 1973. Heck, they have not made the season since 2013.
But they have cash, causing Payne to increase his salary by $ 900,000 with a salary of $ 1.5 million. They also have history, and Thibodeau, who called Calipari a “great coach.” And a front office spearheaded by ex-CAA agent Leon Rose and William “World Wide West” Wesley, who are both returning with Calipari.
‘Leon is a collector. Leon is about bringing people together. ‘Leon is someone who stays in the background and lets other people die, and the reality is that they die, because in the background he helps in any way he can to put them in great position,’ ‘ said Calipari. ‘What Wes will do for Leon is’ How can you help him do what he’s trying to do? ‘… Be’ relationships, they will help. But Leon also has his relationships. ”
Calipari knows all about those relationships. It was Wesley who helped him get Camden’s Dajuan Wagner to Memphis when Calipari coached there. And Payne – who has sent nine big men into the lottery as an assistant to Kentucky, including Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns – has tons of relationships.
It would be credible to think that the Knicks do not hope that some of those relationships can attract an ex-UK star or two. Maybe Towns or Devin Booker, who averaged 31.0 points per game in the playoffs.
But they are also likely counting on Payne to develop the trove of design picks they come up with in the coming years, and his own ex-Wildcats in shooting-challenged Julius Randle and young Kevin Knox.
“As much as I’m happy about the two who know him well, Julius and Kevin, I think you’ll see a change for the better,” Calipari said. ‘Of course Julius did it well, but now I say that next step up. And Kevin is what I told you guys would happen, it would take a year or two to go because of his age. … that will help those two. ”
Calipari also thinks the move will help Payne, 53, who will benefit from running the meticulous Thibodeau, a former NBA Coach of the Year.
“The experience for Kenny will be incredible,” Calipari said. ‘He will learn from a workhorse. He will learn from a man that basketball is his life. Creating teams, creating a culture, that’s the life of Thibs. That’s what he does, nothing else. He’s like Kentucky Fried Chicken; he does chicken. He does not do many other things. It will be great for Kenny to see and be there. ‘
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