Former Wildcats Cashing In Big In The NBA, Earning $4 BILLION in Contracts

Originally posted on KY Insider | By Caleb Brislin | Last updated 10/19/23

In his fourteen seasons as the head coach of Kentucky, John Calipari has had 47 of his players drafted into the NBA, including 35 first-round selections. That said, he has helped transform dozens of lives and families, especially financially.

In a recent SportsCenter interview, Calipari updated the amount that his Kentucky alumni have made in NBA contracts, and the number is quite astounding, to the tune of $4 BILLION dollars – yes, billion with a B – and that excludes endorsements. For reference, if Calipari’s Kentucky alumni were to pool their money together and form a company, they would be a top 3,000 valued global company. As for the reason why, he gives credit to the culture that he has built within the program.

During his SportsCenter interview, John Calipari updates that his players at Kentucky have now earned over $4 BILLION in NBA contracts alone.

"Collectively, not endorsements, it's over $4 B-B-BILLION dollars in contracts. I don't have a magic wand, it's a culture." pic.twitter.com/2Gy4TcqHx3
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) October 13, 2023

Some top earners include Anthony Davis, Devin Booker, and Karl Anthony Towns. They have collectively made nearly $150 to $200 million annually. Davis just recently signed the richest contract extension in NBA history, earning him $62 million annually, and for reference that breaks down to:

$1.19 Million Per Week
$169,863 Per Day
$7,078 Per Hour
$118 Per Second

In 2027, former Wildcat Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could make history by signing a $400 million contract extension in 2027.

Some would argue that Calipari is riding the coattails of five-star recruits. While it is true, that top prospects are more likely to go on to successful NBA careers, he has also helped develop players like Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyler Herro, PJ Washington, and Jarred Vanderbilt among others who have outperformed their high school recruiting rankings, and signed substantial contracts.

This amount also excludes the players he has helped make long international careers like Derek Willis and the Harrison twins, and now even NIL. This spring it was announced that Calipari has put together the La Familia Club which is expected to push Kentucky atop NIL in college basketball.

Having the ability to say that your players have earned billions of dollars in the NBA is certainly beneficial in recruiting. As long as Kentucky continues to put players in the league, expect that number to rise

This article first appeared on KY Insider and was syndicated with permission.

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