Devin Booker drops 40 in front of Coach Cal and Tyler Ulis

Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari speaks to the media during the NCAA first round practice session at PPG Paints Arena - Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

John Calipari is in Phoenix this weekend to support Antonio Reeves in his quest to kick Jack Gohlke’s ass in the Hanes Men’s 3-Point Championship and grip-and-grin at the Final Four. Before then, though, he was hanging out with Tyler Ulis at the Suns game watching Devin Booker drop 40 points in a win.

Calipari was courtside for Phoenix’s 122-101 win over Cleveland, there to see Booker go 13-25 from the field and 5-9 from three with eight assists in his 40-point scoring effort. The former Wildcat was coming off a 52-point game on Monday against the Pelicans where he made history as the only other player in NBA history besides Wilt Chamberlain to score 50+ points in three straight games against the same opponent.

Booker has been on a heater and his former coach had to see it for himself in person on Wednesday.

Book 🤝 Coach Cal pic.twitter.com/YmWBDaFFc3
— CantGuardBook (@CGBBURNER) April 4, 2024

Ulis, Booker’s best friend and former teammate, was with Calipari soaking in the scoring explosion, as well.

Calipari and Tyler Ulis at the Phoenix Suns game last night pic.twitter.com/zL3TAExhcc
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) April 4, 2024

John Calipari honored with Legends of Coaching Award

The 48th annual John R. Wooden Award for Men’s Player of the Year will be announced on Tuesday, April 9. From there, the Men’s and Women’s Wooden Award winners, along with the presentation of the Wooden Award All-American Teams will be presented and honored by Principal Gala at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, April 12.

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Also honored at the Gala? John Calipari, the recipient of this year’s Legends of Coaching Award. He is the second Kentucky coach to receive the honor behind Tubby Smith (2016, Texas Tech), which began in 1999 with North Carolina’s Dean Smith. Other recipients include Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (2000), Louisville’s Denny Crum (2002), Tennessee’s Pat Summitt (2008), Florida’s Billy Donovan (2010), Kansas’ Bill Self (2013) and Villanova’s Jay Wright (2018), among others.

Calipari will return to the West Coast next week for that one. Until then, he’s supporting former players and hanging out at the Final Four in Phoenix.