Kentucky's Calipari denies interest in Knicks job

[June 30, 2017]  The Sports Xchange

Kentucky coach John Calipari refuted an earlier report by ESPN that he used intermediaries to express his interest in the New York Knicks' vacant president of basketball operations job.

Calipari, who is in Egypt with Team USA for an under-19 tournament, tweeted late Thursday (U.S. time), "NO ONE has contacted the Knicks on my behalf. I am the coach at Kentucky and will be for a long time!"

The Knicks parted ways with Phil Jackson on Wednesday, and they do not have interest in Calipari at this point, ESPN.com added, according to its sources.

"Even in Egypt I can't escape the rumors. Are you kidding me?! It's 5 in the morning here and this is what I wake up to?," Calipari also tweeted.

Calipari, 58, signed a two-year extension with Kentucky in March, a deal that takes him through the 2023-24 season. He is scheduled to make $7.75 million next season and $8 million per season in the years after that.

Calipari would be paid $5 million for each year if Kentucky terminates his contract.

The Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly offered Calipari a 10-year contract worth nearly $80 million to be coach and team president in 2014.

The Cavs ended up hiring David Blatt as coach, and Calipari signed a new seven-year deal worth $52.5 million with Kentucky.

Calipari coached the then-New Jersey Nets for parts of three seasons but had no winning seasons and had a 72-112 record.

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