John Calipari breaks down discussions with undrafted Kentucky players

Kentucky head coach John Calipari had another successful NBA Draft for his program this season. For the 12th time in the last 14 drafts, the Wildcats had one player selected in the Lottery with Cason Wallace going 10th overall to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

However, it was the third straight year that only two Kentucky players were selected during the draft. Chris Livingston was the final pick in the draft, being chosen at No. 58 by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Jacob Toppin and 2022 National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe were both signed to two-way deals. Toppin was picked up by the New York Knicks and Tschiebwe was signed by the Indiana Pacers.

Calipari told the media what he told Livingston, Toppin and Tschiebwe during the draft process.

“I said to all three of those players, I gave them the downside,” Calipari said. “This could happen. So don’t let anybody tell you this couldn’t happen. This could happen. I do it with every player. Can you deal with this happening? Yes. Okay. Then it became: now if you’re not drafted, two-ways are not guaranteed. You may get an E10.”

Toppin will not be playing in summer league with the Knicks due to an injury, which Calipari alluded to during his availability. Tshiebwe is on the roster with the Pacers for Summer League.

Calipari believes both have a chance to make the opening day roster for both teams.

“With Chris Livingston, I was ecstatic because he’s going to have a chance,” Calipari said. “The other kids got to fight their way in. But here’s what I would say: Do you know how many players across the country would like to have a foot in the door like Oscar and like Jacob to try to do this and make their run? You got to get a foot in the door. Almost 70% of our players have been drafted or gotten their opportunity in the NBA. Most of them drafted. It’s not normal.”

Kentucky has had an unprecedented amount of success in the draft since Calipari took over. Kentucky players selected in eight different drafts have made the All-Star Game. That does not include the 2016 NBA Draft when Jamal Murray — the current NBA champion who is arguably the league’s best player to never be named an All-Star — was drafted. It also doesn’t include the 2019 NBA Draft, which featured 2022 Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro.

Calipari believes that everything is there for Toppin and Tschiebwe to make NBA rosters. They just have to put in the work to do it.

“You got everything you need to be in that league,” Calipari said. “Everything. Now go fight.”