John Calipari Sends Message to Knicks After NBA Finals Berth

For the first time in 27 years, the New York Knicks have clinched a spot in the NBA Finals after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93 in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

New York has now won 11 consecutive postseason games, including back-to-back series sweeps, and while Jalen Brunson has been at the center of the team's success, it has truly been a collective effort.

The Knicks have received major contributions from players such as Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and especially Karl-Anthony Towns, all of whom have played critical roles during the playoff run.

Sending a message to the Knicks and Towns on Tuesday - one day after the victory - was current Arkansas Razorbacks head coach and longtime Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball coach John Calipari, who coached Towns during the 2014-15 season at Kentucky.

“How about the Knicks?? Congrats to my brothers Leon Rose and William Wesley and their staff for putting an unbelievable group together,” Calipari posted on X. “Also congratulations to Karl Towns, he has taken it to another level and impacted all of these games!”

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Towns is considered one of the best freshmen Calipari ever coached during his time at Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball, but Towns is far from the only former Calipari player still making noise in the postseason.

Calipari also coached two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and guard Cason Wallace on the Oklahoma City Thunder, while De’Aaron Fox and Keldon Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs were also part of Calipari-led teams in Lexington.

The Thunder and Spurs are currently tied 2-2 in the Western Conference Finals entering Tuesday night.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 9:57 PM.