Arkansas coach John Calipari has shaped numerous NBA stars over 34 college seasons. He guided future pros like Marcus Camby, Derrick Rose, John Wall, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyrese Maxey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and more.
This long history of player development continues to give Calipari reasons for pride. On Sunday, he watched as four of his former players led their respective NBA teams in scoring, highlighting his ongoing influence on the game.
How Did John Calipari React to the News of Four of His Former Players Lead Their NBA Teams in Scoring?
Calipari, who guided the 2012 men’s basketball national championship-winning Kentucky Wildcats, had a proud moment on Monday after several of his former Kentucky players led their respective NBA teams in scoring the previous night. He expressed pride that Maxey, Gilgeous-Alexander, Towns, and Quickley made an impact in the world’s best professional basketball league.
“In the eight NBA games last night, four of my former players led their teams in scoring!” he tweeted. “Proud of my guys making an impact at the next level!”
He then highlighted Maxey’s 44 points for the 76ers, Gilgeous-Alexander’s 26 for the Thunder, Towns’ 22 for the Knicks, and Quickley’s 19 for the Raptors.
Gilgeous-Alexander led Oklahoma City to a 123-115 win over Portland on Sunday while Towns topscored for the New York in its 116-94 victory over the Quickley-led Toronto. Maxey’s efforts, however, failed to help Philadelphia, as the 76ers lost 142-134 in double overtime to Atlanta.
He also mentioned Reed Sheppard, who led the Rockets with 31 points against the Warriors on Wednesday.
In the eight NBA games last night four of my former players led their teams in scoring! Proud of my guys making an impact at the next level!
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>Tyrese Maxey- 44 points for the 76ers
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>Shai Gilgeous-Alexander- 26 points for the Thunder
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>Karl Anthony Towns- 22 points for the Knicks…— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) December 1, 2025
Each of these players previously played under Calipari at Kentucky, with Towns suiting up in 2014-15, Gilgeous-Alexander in 2017-18, Maxey in 2019-20 and Quickley taking up two seasons from 2018-20. Sheppard played for Kentucky in the 2023-24 season, which is Calipari’s final year with the Wildcats.
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Calipari led Kentucky for 15 seasons, from 2009 to 2024. The team also reached the Final Four in 2011, 2012, and 2014. The Moon Township, Pennsylvania, native went 410-123 during those seasons for a percentage of 76.9%. He also helped UMass and Memphis make the NCAA Tournament and advanced the teams deep into the tournament during his tenure.
After a disappointing 2023-24 season with the Wildcats, Calipari departed the team. Months later, he was named the new head coach of Arkansas. Signing a five-year deal worth $7 million a season, he promptly guided the Razorbacks to a Sweet 16 appearance last season and has started this season with a 5-2 record.
Building on this momentum, No. 25 Arkansas will host No. 6 Louisville (7-0) in the ACC-SEC Challenge Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.