Remember all of that talk about Chris Livingston‘s role at Kentucky and rumblings that Rich Paul of KLUTCH Sports Group was a thorn in John Calipari’s side throughout the former five-star wing’s one-and-done season in Lexington? The truth is finally starting to come to light — at least on Paul’s side.
In a pre-draft conversation with Gilbert Arenas on‘Gil’s Arena,’ the NBA superagent threw direct shade at Coach Cal regarding Livingston’s time at Kentucky and says he needs to take responsibility for his draft slide following the 2022-23 season.
“Like last year with a guy like Chris Livingston? He was 12th going into Kentucky when he went there. When he left there? You know, like, they’re talking about he can barely be a pro. How?” Paul said of his client. “He’s 6’7, athletic, long. Like, great kid. How is that possible? And who’s taking responsibility for that?”
Livingston made it clear that season he wasn’t happy with how things were going, saying, “I’d be lying if I said I was just happy-go-lucky all the time but honestly you gotta be mentally tough to go through what I went through and what a lot of our players go through being at Kentucky.” That came after his first double-double of his career in a 12-point, 10-rebound effort to help beat a top-10 Tennessee team at home in February.
Calipari’s take that same day?
“(Livingston) reminds me a little bit of Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander),” he said. “Like, really smart. Cares too much. Was listening to too many voices. And building your confidence, he was doing it in practice and then you got to have a demonstrated performance.”
Paul was undoubtedly one of those voices, who now believes someone deserves to be held accountable for Livingston’s fall from lottery status going into the year to the final pick in the 2023 NBA Draft — No. 58 overall. He did, however, sign a four-year, $7.7 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, the largest ever for a final selection.
KLUTCH helped make that happen, Paul using his connections to put his client in a winning situation while making unprecedented money.
“That’s the thing. Someone has to be held accountable because, I would think, if I was coaching a young man or young woman? When you come in here, my job is either you’re leaving here just as good as you did when you came in or better. There’s no way you’re leaving here worse because I’m taking the responsibility,” Paul said. “If I’m to the level and you’re saying that I’m this coach and we’re this institution? Then I have to hold myself accountable as well.
“It’s just like being in school. As a teacher, you’re not going to feel good just passing a kid along for the sake of passing a kid along, although it’s happening in many public schools in urban communities for many years. That don’t feel good and you know that don’t feel good – the same way as this.”
Livingston signed with the Wildcats as a consensus five-star recruit and the No. 16 prospect nationally, a strong and athletic wing capable of finishing around the rim and knocking down threes. With major defensive upside and physicality on the glass, many saw him as a small-ball four while Livingston himself looked to prove he was a big guard at the next level. If anything, that was the biggest gripe regarding his short time in Lexington, not total minutes played or usage. And that favors Coach Cal, who kept him at the three longer than anyone desired — no matter how many times he went back and forth on the matter.
The end of Calipari’s time in Lexington deserves criticism, but I’m not quite sure it’s fair to pin Livingston’s lack of production on the former Kentucky coach.
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