Praise for Pope

[bucsrule8872]

1. Pacers: Darryn Peterson, Kansas

2. Wizards: AJ Dybantsa, BYU

3. Hornets: Cameron Boozer, Duke

4. Hawks: Caleb Wilson, UNC

5. Kings: Kingston Flemings, Houston

6. Nets: Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

7. Jazz: Hannes Steinbach, Washington

8. Thunder: Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan

9. Mavericks: Labaron Philon, Alabama

10. Grizzlies: Jayden Quaintance, Kentucky

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/projecting-the-2026-nba-draft-first-round-jan-13

JQ returning is wishful thinking at this point. Everything points to him being a mid-Lottery Pick.

Agreed.

No way he comes back, with him being projected so high.

I wonder who risks their job on picking him at this point. I wouldn’t want to be the guy who decides to pull the trigger on him in the 6-10 range. If he’s a bust, then your head is on the chopping block.

Then again, if you pass on him and he ends up being a stud, you are in the same boat. Still, I wouldn’t take a chance inside the top 10 for him based on his performance this season. He could very well be damaged goods.

I honestly see him falling to the end of the lottery or just outside the lottery due to his uncertainty. He would be seen as a steal for picks 15-20. But he’s a big risk to take in the top 10.

Regardless, he’s gone after this season. No way he takes the college route given his situation.

[blueheretic]

I wonder who risks their job on picking him at this point. I wouldn’t want to be the guy who decides to pull the trigger on him in the 6-10 range. If he’s a bust, then your head is on the chopping block.

Exactly.

With modern medicine being what it is, though. I imagine the NBA dudes can make a fairly sound judgment.

[blueheretic]

Risk/Reward for JQ would seem to push him to the NBA.

He gets drafted and then re-injures, he's getting paid to rehabilitate, etc on an NBA team.

If he stays college and re-injures, he's probably off to Europe for, at least, a few years before he can even attempt to get back on an NBA path.

[KentuckyWild2020]

3 Changes Mark Pope potentially could make to rejuvenate excitement and spark passion within himself and the fan-base.
1) General Manager - Derek Anderson
Coach Pope's former teammate and fellow 1996 National Champion.
Derek Anderson was an NBA and NCAA champion who has successfully transitioned to a career as a businessman, producer, author, and philanthropist since his retirement from basketball in 2008.
Business and Philanthropy Ventures
DA Enterprises: In Louisville, he invested millions of dollars and ran community programs through his company
Hospitality: He expanded his business life by opening two hotels in Turks & Caicos.
AOK App: A mobile application focused on acts of kindness and community engagement.
Media and Entertainment: Anderson founded his own film studio, Loyalty Media Group, and works as a producer and screenwriter. He has produced and directed the documentary The Untouchables of Kentucky.
Author and Speaker: He is an author and motivational speaker, promoting his book and "Stamina" brand.
Stamina Foundation: Through this non-profit organization founded with his wife Jamie, he works to support and empower underserved youth, particularly those facing homelessness, by providing education, mentorship, and wellness programs.
Advocacy: Anderson serves as the NBA Player Wellness Counselor, advocating for athletes' mental health.
Advisory Roles: He has joined the Board of Advisors for Draganfly, a drone technology company, to advocate for health assessment measures in schools and arenas.
Anderson's journey from growing up homeless to a successful career on and off the court serves as a powerful rags-to-riches story.
2) Director of Player Personnel and Development - John Wall
Combining legendary status with specific, high-level skills suitable for mentoring elite young talent. Wall, a 5-time NBA All-Star, is considered one of the most important players of the John Calipari era for revitalizing the program
Elite Player Development Credentials: As an NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection (2015) and a former top-five pick known for elite speed, transition play, and passing (averaging over 10 assists per game from 2014-2017), Wall can provide elite, hands-on training, particularly for guards.
Mentor Potential: Following his 2025 retirement, multiple players who followed in his footsteps to Kentucky expressed his impact on them. He has already mentored current NBA talent, such as Rob Dillingham.
Deep Connection to Kentucky: Wall is a UK Athletics Hall of Famer (inducted 2017) who maintained a close relationship with the program after his 2009-10 season. He has shown loyalty to the school, returning for Big Blue Madness and games even after Calipari's departure.
Recruiting and Brand Power: Wall remains a "rock star" in the BBN (Big Blue Nation) community. His presence on staff would likely boost recruiting by connecting with young players who grew up watching him as one of the "coolest" players of his generation.
3) Assistant Coach - Rajon Rondo
Basketball Acumen: Rondo (2-time NBA Champ) is widely considered one of the smartest players ever coached by Doc Rivers and is known as one of the best "floor generals" in NBA history. His ability to read the game would be a significant asset to a coaching staff.
Kentucky Connection: Rondo is a Kentucky native who played for the Wildcats from 2004–2006 (Tubby Smith era) and recently finished his degree at the university. He has a strong connection to the program and a deep understanding of the "Kentucky basketball" culture and fan base.
Mentorship Potential: His experience as a two-time NBA champion and four-time All-Star would make him an unbelievable mentor for young college guards. He has already spoken to the current team about the value of sacrifice and playing for the name on the front of the jersey.
Coaching Experience: While he doesn't have extensive formal coaching experience, Rondo is working on the Milwaukee Bucks staff as a de facto assistant for the 2024-25 season, learning the ropes at the professional level. He had previously been linked to a potential student assistant role at Kentucky while working on his degree.

Whoever voted this down show yourself.

All that bd don't matter but one thing remains the same moving forward long term, Pope must find him some muscle on the sidelines and off the court to hold players accountable and be the bad guy.

Also won't hurt to have star power recruiting. We have to much ex Alumni anx star power not to use it to our advantage..

[blueheretic]

We're having a decent season this year all things (mostly injuries) considered. The team is playing at a higher level now than a month or 2 ago for sure.

lol

[Pete Hogwallop]

Whoever voted this down show yourself.

All that bd don't matter but one thing remains the same moving forward long term, Pope must find him some muscle on the sidelines and off the court to hold players accountable and be the bad guy.

Also won't hurt to have star power recruiting. We have to much ex Alumni anx star power not to use it to our advantage..

I didn't downvote it. But while I agree that those would be beneficial positions to have, I'm not convinced those individuals are the best ones to fill them. I'd rather fill them with someone already successful in the same role or one very close to it.

[KentuckyWild2020]

I didn't downvote it. But while I agree that those would be beneficial positions to have, I'm not convinced those individuals are the best ones to fill them. I'd rather fill them with someone already successful in the same role or one very close to it.

Fair enough.. After the game, Derek Anderson was the first person he hugged for the 96 reunion..

Regardless, I think a good GM to manage players and muscle on the sidelines to go along with a start recruiter would go a long way..

[Trueblujr]

NBA Rookie Pay Scale 25-26

1	$11,521,600	$12,097,900	$12,673,900	26.1%	40.0%
2	$10,308,600	$10,824,200	$11,339,800	26.2%	40.5%
3	$9,257,400	$9,719,900	$10,183,200	26.4%	41.2%
4	$8,346,400	$8,763,800	$9,181,300	26.5%	41.9%
5	$7,558,200	$7,935,900	$8,313,800	26.7%	42.6%
6	$6,864,700	$7,208,000	$7,551,400	26.8%	43.4%
7	$6,266,700	$6,580,200	$6,893,300	27.0%	44.1%
8	$5,741,000	$6,028,100	$6,315,200	27.2%	44.8%
9	$5,277,100	$5,541,300	$5,805,000	27.4%	45.5%
10	$5,013,400	$5,263,900	$5,514,300	27.5%	46.2%
11	$4,762,600	$5,000,900	$5,239,100	32.7%	46.9%
12	$4,524,600	$4,751,000	$4,977,300	37.8%	47.6%
13	$4,298,300	$4,513,400	$4,728,200	42.9%	48.3%
14	$4,083,600	$4,287,800	$4,492,200	48.1%	49.1%
15	$3,879,200	$4,073,100	$4,267,000	53.3%	49.8%
16	$3,685,300	$3,869,600	$4,054,100	53.4%	50.5%
17	$3,500,900	$3,676,000	$3,851,000	53.6%	51.2%
18	$3,326,100	$3,492,100	$3,658,600	53.8%	51.9%
19	$3,176,300	$3,335,000	$3,494,200	54.0%	52.6%
20	$3,049,000	$3,201,400	$3,353,700	54.2%	53.3%
21	$2,927,100	$3,073,600	$3,220,000	59.3%	54.1%
22	$2,810,200	$2,950,500	$3,091,100	64.5%	54.8%
23	$2,697,900	$2,832,900	$2,967,400	69.7%	55.5%
24	$2,590,100	$2,719,500	$2,849,000	74.9%	56.2%
25	$2,486,100	$2,610,300	$2,735,000	80.1%	56.9%
26	$2,403,800	$2,523,800	$2,644,100	80.3%	57.6%
27	$2,334,400	$2,451,200	$2,568,200	80.4%	58.3%
28	$2,319,900	$2,436,300	$2,552,200	80.5%	59.0%
29	$2,303,300	$2,418,400	$2,533,600	80.5%	60.0%
30	$2,286,500	$2,400,800	$2,515,400	80.5%	60.0%

Based upon this scale, JQ would need to be projected to go lower than 20 for a return to be an intelligent move for him.

That's on the low end of possibility from all that I've read.

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/info/rookie_scale

Not necessarily. If he's picked in the 16-20 range, he could come back for about $2-3Mil of NIL money then play himself back into a lottery pick or the top pick and potentially make more in his first year than he would have in all three years combined at that pick. making some NIL coin to offset that 1st year salary of someone outside the lottery makes it a lot more appealing for kids with high upside to return to school, if they can play their way into the lottery.