John Calipari has won big at UMass, Memphis and Kentucky. His current UK squad is, of course, undefeated and just four wins away from a national title and a 40-0 mark.

The one place Calipari has not won is the NBA. He failed in his only stint at the professional level, compiling a 72-112 record with the New Jersey Nets over parts of three seasons. Calipari was fired 20 games into the strike-shortened 1998-99 season.

So would Calipari ever leave Lexington, and the college ranks altogether, for another crack at the NBA? The possibility of that isn’t as far-fetched as one might think, according to NorthJersey.com’s Steve Popper.

Popper’s report quotes an unnamed NBA front office official as saying Calipari wants back in the pro game, and badly.

“He desperately wants it,” the front office official said. “He won’t say it out loud. The NBA is the only place he’s ever failed and it drives him nuts. He’s not the same guy he was then. He came to the NBA and he wasn’t ready. He’s ready now.”

As of now, Calipari back in the NBA is mere speculation and conjecture. It would certainly be an interesting reunion though, if it ever came to fruition.

[ H/T: SBNation ]