BROOKLYN — The 2025 NBA Draft brings with it the usual swirl of anticipation, but for John Calipari, a coach as synonymous with first-round picks as he is with fierce sideline intensity, this year feels different.
For the past 17 years, Calipari has watched at least one of his players step onto the stage as a first-rounder. Tonight, the fate of that legacy sits firmly on the broad shoulders of former Arkansas forward Adou Thiero.
Seventeen first-rounders in 17 consecutive drafts. It’s a run that began in 2008 with Derrick Rose’s selection at No. 1, a moment that signaled the rise of Calipari as the college game’s preeminent NBA talent incubator.
Since then, 39 Calipari-coached players have heard their names called in the first round, many blossoming into NBA stars, from Anthony Davis to Devin Booker.
“My guys have made $6 billion in the NBA. Six billion,” Calipari said on “The Pat McAfee Show,” underscoring the financial and basketball success of his alumni. “If you’re willing to take an extra $800,000 to go [into the portal], and you’re telling me you want to be a pro, have at it.”
This year, though, the streak teeters.
Thiero, a wiry 6-foot-8 forward with a reputation for relentless defense and athleticism, is the only Razorback on draft boards with a plausible shot at preserving Calipari’s run.
Most analysts see Thiero as a late first-round hope at best, more likely to land in the early second round. ESPN’s latest mock draft has him pegged for the 35th pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, a second-round slot.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor, however, slots him at 28th to the Boston Celtics, calling Thiero “a slasher with a jacked frame and an explosive first step,” but noting his offensive limitations—especially his shooting touch.
Thiero’s lone season in Fayetteville was a showcase for his versatility. Averaging 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting over 54% from the field, he was a bright spot in a transition year for the Razorbacks.
His defensive prowess drew comparisons to elite NBA stoppers, with CBS Sports’ Collin Ward-Henninger writing, “Watching Lu Dort lock down opponents in the Finals may boost the stock of Thiero, an elite defensive prospect who lacks polish on the offensive end.”
The persistent concern that remains is if Thiero’s offense can develop enough to keep him on an NBA floor?
The stakes for Calipari are more than personal pride.
His ability to shepherd young players to the league has become a central recruiting pitch, especially in the era of NIL deals and transfer portals.
On the McAfee show, Calipari cautioned prospects not to let short-term money distract from long-term professional earnings.
“You don’t wanna trip over nickels trying to get to 200 million,” he quipped, a not-so-subtle reminder that the NBA’s rewards favor those who play the long game.
In private and public, Calipari has mounted a full-throated campaign for Thiero.
“Thiero is a first round draft pick, and I’m gonna tell you why,” he insisted. “The league, I love the physicalness of the league right now. You gotta work to get a basket. Adou can play in a physical game and athletically be in the top 1%. He’s somebody if you pass on, they’ll look back and say, ‘How many people passed on him?’ And a good kid from Pittsburgh.”
Draft projections, though, remain all over the map.
Of seven CBS Sports experts, only one predicts Thiero’s name will be called in the first round. The rest see him as an early second-rounder—a prospect with tantalizing upside but enough question marks to keep teams guessing.
The consensus is that a franchise willing to bet on his defensive tools and NBA-ready frame could find a rotational gem, especially in a league that prizes switchable defenders.
For Razorback fans, the night is about more than Thiero’s personal ambitions.
Calipari’s decision to leave Kentucky for Fayetteville came with the promise of both continuity and change with the continuation of his NBA pipeline, but also a new chapter for a program hungry for national relevance.
Thiero’s selection, even at the end of the first round, would validate that vision.
“It starts with Wednesday night’s NBA Draft, where Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari hopes to extend a 17-year run with a first-round pick,” wrote the Southwest Times Record.
Yet, the outcome feels anything but certain. NBA teams are weighing Thiero’s defense against his shooting woes and offensive polish. The league’s recent focus on “3-and-D” players works in his favor, but the margins are razor-thin.
A late first-round pick could mean millions more in guaranteed money and a stronger launchpad. A second-round slot, while still prestigious, would mark the end of Calipari’s historic streak.
As draft night unfolds, Thiero sits in the green room with family, Calipari’s words echoing in his ear. The coach has compared him to past under-the-radar picks who blossomed into NBA standouts, and scouts agree that Thiero’s physical gifts are rare.
“If he’s able to figure out the shot, then his length and versatility would make him a classic 3-and-D role player,” wrote O’Connor. “Even without it, the Celtics could find value by using him in spots occupied by Jrue Holiday as a screener, roller, and at-rim finisher.”
The moment is a crossroads for Arkansas and for Calipari’s reputation as a talent developer. While the NBA Draft is always a gamble, the stakes tonight are amplified by history and expectation.
Should Thiero slip into the early second round, Calipari’s 17-year streak will close, a remarkable run in an era of constant change. If Thiero’s name is called among the first 30, the streak lives, and with it, Calipari’s claim as the sport’s most reliable NBA gatekeeper.
For Thiero, the draft is both a culmination and a beginning.
The Pittsburgh native, once overlooked, now stands as a symbol for every high-upside prospect who trusts the process and the system. It’s a referendum on Calipari’s relentless advocacy, his ability to spot and nurture NBA talent, and his promise to every recruit who dreams of the next level.
