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Cal says fear of failing motivates players

Updated: Wed 7:39 PM, Dec 12, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - UK coach John Calipari says it's not the fear of him that motivates players. Cal says it's the fear they're not good enough.

Calipari has coached player after player thats moved on to the NBA. He said the most fearful guy he ever coached was Derrick Rose who played for him at Memphis. "Scared to death he wasn't good enough, wasn't going to make it, was Derrick Rose. Scared to death, would stay in the gym five hours."

Another example Calipari used was Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who played for him one season at Kentucky. "Scared to death he wasn't good enough." After his first games with Charlotte, Kidd-Gilchrist sent word to Cal. "I may have made a mistake, I don't think I'm good enough, that's what he's texting me from Charlotte. What? are you kidding me kid."

Calipari said he told MKG the things he does no one else does, just keep competing. "The guys that thik they're 'it', they've made it, I'll be honest, normally don't make it."


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