HATERS: Calipari hears and ignores you
Brad Calipari likely won't be on the floor in crunch time this season. The Cats won't go to him with the game on the line. The coach's son isn't a five-star recruit that will be another UK lottery pick.
But that doesn't the stop the 6-foot, 178-pound sophomore from working hard. It's his work ethic that leads him to believe at some point at Kentucky he will have a significant role.
If his performance this summer for Global Sports Academy is any indication, his impact on Kentucky may be sooner than later.
Calipari averaged 14.3 points to go along with 6.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game playing against pro teams overseas. Global Sports Academy groups together American players and gives them the opportunity to play European professionals.
"It was good," Calipari said. "We visited a lot of places over there and playing against some pro teams was a great experience. Playing against these guys, you see how the game is different over there. The guys aren't as athletic but they're very skilled."
His averages were some of the best on the team and he also had a 19 point, seven assist and four rebound performance in one win.
Calipari admitted that the competition wasn't NBA good, and maybe not even as much talent as he sees on a daily basis at Kentucky, but they still get paid to play basketball.
Plus, at a UK practice at the Joe Craft Center, you see some of the best athletes basketball has to offer. Calipari has watched John Wall, Eric Bledsoe and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist play at UK. He's gone up against De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk. But one learning experience overseas is seeing how you don't have to be the best athlete to be successful.
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"They do certain things over there they don't do over here, but they do some things better over there they don't do here," Calipari said. "The guys are still pros. They are still professional athletes and they're all great players."
Calipari said that since they don't rely on athleticism they are forced to perfect their skill set. They are forced to be knockdown shooters and not turn the ball over. Calipari tried to perfect both those skills.
But confidence is what will help Calipari the most, and he's riding high after this summer.
"Yeah, it gave me confidence over there and playing well and seeing teammates knockdown shots and stuff," Calipari said. "I played point guard over there and it gave me a little more confidence handling the balls and making the right decisions down the stretch."
Any added confidence is nice for Calipari, especially after the ridicule he receives almost on a daily basis. That comes with the territory of being a Hall of Famer's son.
Calipari receives nasty tweets almost daily and usually receives more attention from opposing student sections than future NBA all-stars. When Calipari had a tattoo put on his chest that said "Earned Not Given" that's when he heard from people the most.
Calipari hears you, but he doesn't care about you. Everything you can throw his way he's already heard in his life. Several times.
From people closest to him.
"It started with my sisters," Calipari said. "I take a lot from my sisters. Every time I see them they're on me and joking on me. When I was younger I'd get upset but I just kinda let it go after awhile and I started laughing."
Whether or not Calipari knew it at the time, his sisters made him tougher. Any person that has older siblings has probably endured some bullying from big bro or big sis.
But those people don't have to deal with hate from strangers on almost a daily basis. That's how Calipari is different.
"People like that you just have to laugh at," he said. "How can you hate someone you don't know? You see that a lot. The way I was raised that's not normal. People do it anyways. I see it and it's kinda fun and it is what it is. It's not really my point of focus to worry about what people have to say. I've heard it all. It comes with it but it just gives you thicker skin."
That type of toughness has already helped Calipari in life, and it will eventually lead him to having his moment as a player at Kentucky.
Calipari appeared in 15 games last year and he hopes to that number climbs in 2017-2018. He knows he has an advantage because of his shooting ability, but his experience this summer also showcased his ability to be a solid passer.
"Each year going against these guys, like De'Aaron and Malik, it's just unbelievable," he said. "They're lottery picks in the draft. You can't ask for anything better. If you don't work and get better you get left behind. Doing that each year, this year, next year and the year after, I'll get closer to where I need to be.