John Calipari warns NBA teams not to pass on Tyrese Maxey

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Tyrese Maxey (Jeff Houchin Photo)

With the NBA Draft approaching, it’s not unusual for Kentucky coach John Calipari to be “selling” his players to NBA teams. It’s no different this year and he was really touting on guard Tyrese Maxey earlier this week.

“I’m trying to tell everybody when you look at Tyrese, he’s a smaller version, but he’s still 6-2, of Jamal Murray who is 6-5. They both have that lower release. Everybody said Jamal would never get it (his shot) off,” Calipari said Monday during a Zoom media call.

Murray was a productive guard at Kentucky but has grown into a NBA star who really blossomed in the recent NBA playoffs. He was the seventh pick in the draft — which is way higher than Maxey is projected to go.

Murray proved all the doubters wrong and Maxey has many questioning various parts of his overall game even thought there’s no doubt he’ll be picked in the first round and possibly a lottery pick.

“Jamal played with Tyler Ulis so (people) said, is he a point guard? They’re point guards. We’re teaching them to play with the ball and without the ball. And now it becomes: do they make game-winning shots? Are they that guy? Tyrese is,” Calipari said. Calipari noted that Maxey’s ability to play both guard spots is a plus just like it was for Murray. Maxey averaged 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last season and shot 42.7 percent from the field but only 29 percent from 3-point range.

Mike Schmitz, ESPN NBA Draft analyst, recently said on SportsCenter not to be fooled by Maxey’s numbers at UK.

“You have to play a role there. You have to fit in. Coach Cal does a tremendous job of forcing these guys to buy into a role. It’s about winning for the team and you sacrifice there and that’s what Maxey did,” Schmitz said.

Calipari said not to underestimate Maxey’s athleticism.

“Tyrese, physically, athletically, he’s a guy who’s blocking shots, rebounding the ball, has played dribble-drive and a downhill runner his whole life. He has to be more consistent with his shooting so did Jamal. But they played similar (roles) here,” Calipari said.

Calipari also added a warning for NBA teams who might be hesitant to draft Maxey.

“There are going to be people who’ll pass on Tyrese that will regret like how they passed on PJ (Washington), like how they passed on Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), Jamal (Murray) and we can keep going,” Calipari said. “He’s going to be that (type of player).”

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