John Calipari shows up to TBT, meets with entire La Familia team

John Calipari made the trip to Philadelphia to watch his former players in action.

During the semifinals of The Basketball Tournament on Friday night, Calipari showed up at Daskalakis Athletic Center in support of La Famila. Kentucky’s former head coach coached 11 of the 12 players on La Familia’s roster at Kentucky — along with head coach Tyler Ulis — and made sure to show them all some love in the pregame warmups.

Calipari wasn’t the only former ‘Cat in attendance either. He was joined by Tyrese Maxey and Justin Edwards of the Philadelphia 76ers, Enes Kanter (the older brother of La Familia’s Kerem Kanter, the lone non-UK alum on the team), Isaiah Briscoe, Lance Ware, DJ Wagner, and assistant coaches Chin Coleman and Bruiser Flint.

“What I’m proud of is Enes came, Isaiah came, Justin came, Tyrese Maxaey came. We got guys coming to watch the family play,” Calipari told TBT. “And then the guys that are doing this and are battling — watched them on TV. I told them we get to Philly I’m coming. I’m here for them.”

JOHN CALIPARI IS HERE!!!!!!!

The entire @LaFamiliaTBT team went up to @CoachCalArk before the game and he hugged each player!

Wow, this is what “La Familia” is all about! pic.twitter.com/I5r94q3x3b

— TBT (@thetournament) August 3, 2024

The stars of @LaFamiliaTBT greet former @KentuckyMBB LEGEND John Calipari before their Semifinals matchup on FS1! 🏆🐐 pic.twitter.com/nGU8oDsgML

— TBT (@thetournament) August 3, 2024

.@sixers SUPERSTAR Tyrese Maxey just pulled up to support @LaFamiliaTBT in the Semifinals!

The @KentuckyMBB love here is CRAZY. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/4oJAdySFlA

— TBT (@thetournament) August 3, 2024

Former @KentuckyMBB star Isaiah Briscoe pulled up to support @LaFamiliaTBT and is sitting courtside next to Enes Kanter! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/NIk6CqQQfj

— TBT (@thetournament) August 3, 2024

Obviously, Calipari has moved on from Kentucky and is now the head coach at Arkansas. But it’s a pretty cool gesture for him to show up and cheer on the players who helped create so much success in Lexington over the last 15 years. There’s no telling how he would have been received by the fans had he showed up to Rupp Arena or Freedom Hall for the previous TBT games — it’s not a huge shock to see him finally make an appearance in Philly.

Unfortunately for La Familia, Calipari has not brought the good luck so far. The Kentucky alums trail Carmen’s Crew at halftime of the semis, 40-27. If the ‘Cats want to make Sunday’s championship, they’ll need to make a serious charge going in the second half.