Charles Barkley: John Calipari not drunk enough to take Knicks job

John Calipari continues to deny any interest in coaching in the NBA again, and according to Charles Barkley, unless he’s had too much bourbon, the Kentucky coach wouldn’t even answer the Knicks’ call.

“He’s never going to be drunk enough to take that Knicks job,” Barkley told WFAN’s Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton.

“That would be career suicide,” Barkley added. “I’m a big, big John Calipari fan, but he’s not gonna take that job—’cause that ain’t a good job. ...

“I don’t dislike the Knicks. But they just don’t have a good team. I just told you, they’re the No. 7 seed. You guys act like they’re the No. 1 or 2 seed! ... They’re not going anywhere (in the playoffs), they’re gonna be one-and-done.”

Calipari, meanwhile, takes exception to the notion that one-and-done players are ruining the sport of college basketball.

In an interview with Fox Sports Radio (transcribed by Sports Radio Interviews), Calipari said, “Here’s the thing that got me mad—‘this is bad for college athletics and student athlete…’ What are you talking about? You had these players (at Kentucky this season) at a young age playing for each other and not themselves, sharing the ball, sacrificing their game for the good of the team, and every young player on the planet got to see it, including NBA players that thought that is neat. We all learned.

“Yet some nerd has got to say, ‘well it’s bad for college sports.’ Why? Because they’re talented? Was it bad when Tiger Woods left Stanford? (Sarcastically) He ruined that University by leaving early! I mean what are you talking about?”