Kentucky’s ‘brilliant relationship’ with the NBA isn’t going anywhere under Mark Pope [Video]

There was a love-hate relationship between Kentucky fans and the NBA under John Calipari, certainly by the end of his 15-year run in Lexington. When things were rolling, Big Blue Nation loved watching Wildcat stars ‘succeed and proceed’ to the league, turning those brilliant one-and-done memories into career-long support. Things got tricky, though, when the NBA factory kept churning forward as postseason success stalled. Was it more important to count draft picks and pro salaries or hang banners? It’s fun to do both, not so much when there’s a heavy emphasis on the former and none on the latter.

How will things look moving forward under new head coach Mark Pope, who has said from day one there is nothing more important than bringing No. 9 to Lexington? Ideally, nothing will change in terms of pro production — that level of talent helps you win games. What is done with that talent, though, is what Pope will …