Julius Randle discusses ‘real’ conversations with John Calipari about NBA Draft

John Calipari has always taken the approach of ‘players first’ with his philosophy at Kentucky. Having played under him for a season in Lexington, former Wildcat Julius Randle says that that statement couldn’t be any more true.

Randle recently discussed his lone season at Kentucky back in 2013-2014 with Paul George on ‘Podcast P’. He said that, from the jump in recruitments, Calipari lets you know that he’s not going to hold you back if he thinks you’re ready for the NBA.

“That’s what it is, bro. Like, (Calipari) is gonna tell you that when he come in your living room. Like, ‘I’m not trying to keep you here’. And I can respect that,” Randle said. “Like, (he says), ‘I’m trying to prepare you for the next level. As a person but as a basketball player as well.'”

Then, Randle told the story of how Calipari essentially made his NBA Draft decision for him. After losing the national title game in 2014, he said Calipari spoke with him back at the hotel and said that he wasn’t going to let him return to college considering there was ‘no reason for (him) to come back.’

“It’s funny, man, because Cal can’t help himself but to be real, bro. We played in the national championship that year, right? We lost. So I’m hurt,” Randle said. “We go back to the hotel and he brings everybody in and says, ‘Alright, I’m gonna meet with everybody individually tonight. Just talk about your future and stuff.’ So we meet with him and I meet with him that night. And he’s like, ‘Bro, don’t even think about coming back. I’m telling you. There ain’t no reason for you to come back, I’m not letting you come back. If you want to stay here in Dallas? Stay here in Dallas. But you’re not coming back.'”

“He’s not trying to hold you back at all,” said Randle. “He’s definitely a real one. Shoutout to Cal, man.”

Randle arrived as Calipari’s latest five-star freshman and the No. 2 recruit overall in 2013. He joined a stacked class at the time as one of six five-stars to come to the bluegrass that offseason.

In the end, Randle led the Wildcats with averages of 15 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a man amongst boys in his freshman year at Kentucky. He also led the nation in total rebounds in that season with 416 while also finishing Top-10 in the NCAA in that season in free-throw attempts.

Come the 2014 NBA Draft, Randle went to the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 7 pick. Since then, he has completed nine successful seasons in the NBA with LA, New Orleans, and New York as a two-time All-Star and All-NBA selection. In total, he has made over $200 million as a professional basketball player.

Randle isn’t the only former player who suggests as much about Calipari. Regardless of the headlines about him, Randle says that the Hall of Famer is only focused on the welfare, in the present and future, of his players and their families.