Zero Kentucky players drafted in NBA lottery for first time since John Calipari era began

This year’s NBA Draft was strange for several reasons, but none more so than the lack of Blue Blood talent.

For the first time since 2010–when John Calipari became the head coach at Kentucky–there were ZERO former Wildcats drafted within the first 14 picks of the NBA Draft, otherwise known as the “lottery.” But taking it a step further, this year marked the first time since 2000 that a player from Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, or North Carolina was not selected in the lottery.

John Calipari’s Lottery Pick streak has ended

First year since he has been at Kentucky that he has not had a Lottery Pick

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 19, 2020

This is the first time Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina or Duke did not have a player drafted in the lottery since 2000.

Kentucky had a lottery pick in each of the previous 10 Drafts entering 2020, the longest streak by any school since the lottery began in 1985.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 19, 2020

John Wall got the streak rolling back in 2010 after going No. 1 overall to the Washington Wizards. Since then, 20 other former Wildcats have gone in the lottery, including two more No. 1 overall picks in Anthony Davis (2012) and Karl-Anthony Towns (2015). Tyrese Maxey was Kentucky’s best bet at continuing the streak, but he fell ended up falling outside of the lottery this year.

Even without a lottery pick, Kentucky still posted a 25-6 record a season ago and finished at the top of the SEC.