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When Pope was selected by the Pacers in 96.

TrueBluePhil

TrueBluePhil

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No, Mark Pope is not the only current college basketball coach who played in the NBA. He did play six seasons in the league with teams like the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets after his college career at Washington and Kentucky, where he was part of the 1996 national championship team, and now coaches at Kentucky. However, several other active NCAA Division I head coaches also have NBA playing experience, including:
  • Penny Hardaway at the University of Memphis: A four-time NBA All-Star who played 14 seasons with the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat from 1993 to 2007.
  • Mark Madsen at the University of California, Berkeley: Played nine NBA seasons, winning two championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, and has been head coach at Cal since 2023.
  • Reggie Theus at Bethune-Cookman University: A two-time NBA All-Star who played 13 seasons from 1978 to 1991, averaging 18.5 points per game, and has coached there since 2021.
 
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Kentucky15

Kentucky15

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Yea Penny is the only other one I can think of. Garbage. Told many when he took that job he’s trash, he was a trash middle school coach too. Lots of ranting no coaching.

wasn’t Pat Kelsey the guard for the kings back in the day?
 
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J

Joerupp1

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Oct 3, 2025
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Fred Hoiberg, Damon Stoudamire, Bobby Hurley, Bryce Drew (D2?) and I’m probably leaving 2 or 3 others out that hadn’t been mentioned. Is Theus still coaching? Avery Johnson, Woodson and Juwan Howard are no longer coaching in the NCAA.
 
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UK4Life#9

UK4Life#9

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Kentucky15 said:
That’s him. They look so similar.

a new rafters low. Confusing Kelsey with white chocolate.🤪
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I’m not hating on ya but you must be young. lol

JWill was the truth back in the day. My brothers ex wife graduated with him and Randy Moss at DuPont High School in WV. I saw the place where he grew up and if I’m remembering right, it was a double wide trailer in the hood.
 
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Kentucky15

Kentucky15

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UK4Life#9 said:
I’m not hating on ya but you must be young. lol

JWill was the truth back in the day. My brothers ex wife graduated with him and Randy Moss at DuPont High School in WV. I saw the place where he grew up and if I’m remembering right, it was a double wide trailer in the hood.
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eehhh I was just joking. I’m aware he’s not white chocolate lol. But they are both white?

I’m 39, loved those white chocolate years. He did grow up interesting, I still think he’s the best passer I ever watched.
 
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UK4Life#9

UK4Life#9

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Kentucky15 said:
eehhh I was just joking. I’m aware he’s not white chocolate lol. But they are both white?

I’m 39, loved those white chocolate years. He did grow up interesting, I still think he’s the best passer I ever watched.
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I was wondering if you were joking, I’m 38 so we got to watch basically the same years of ball.. lol He’s definitely the best passer I’ve ever watched. I remember seeing the elbow pass and then trying to do it myself! 😂
 
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Kentucky15

Kentucky15

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UK4Life#9 said:
I was wondering if you were joking, I’m 38 so we got to watch basically the same years of ball.. lol He’s definitely the best passer I’ve ever watched. I remember seeing the elbow pass and then trying to do it myself! 😂
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He is one of the most underrated of his era for sure. I always wished he had been a UK guy.
 
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UK4Life#9

UK4Life#9

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Kentucky15 said:
He is one of the most underrated of his era for sure. I always wished he had been a UK guy.
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I can’t remember if we even recruited him, I doubt it tho. I looked some things up when we started this convo and he wasn’t nationally ranked but was regarded as one of the best players, which is weird.

Who would have thought these two would go on to be one of the best players of all time at their position? 😂 IMG_0643.jpeg
 
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