NBA legend Jamal Crawford turns down Kentucky job, forcing Mark Pope to look elsewhere

Mark Pope's pursuit of a final player to tie off Kentucky's roster has dominated the men's basketball headlines for weeks now, but it wasn't the only ultimate chase taking place behind the scenes. For months now, the Wildcats have had an outstanding offer to NBA legend Jamal Crawford to come in and take their open assistant coaching spot.

And in breaking news, after a ton of time spent dancing around the whole ordeal on either side, Crawford has officially turned the position down, per KSR. Coach Pope will now have to pivot for his assistant opening just as he has in recent weeks for the last spot on the team.

Crawford was initially seen as a must-get to land No. 1 overall recruit Tyran Stokes, but even after that fell through, his high school coaching experience (with Stokes and others) as well as the built-in professional knowledge that he brings seemed like more than enough for the Cats to keep pushing.

According to Crawford, though, it's all about timing. And right now, at least on his end, a Crawford-Kentucky union simply wasn't going to work.

Bad Timing for Jamal Crawford and Kentucky

“If this were a different time, there’s no doubt. There’s zero doubt,” Crawford told KSR. At least he's got a positive opinion of the program, Big Blue Nation; Pope must've been doing something right in these negotiations.

“I have such respect for Coach Pope, Coach Mo (Williams)," Crawford continued, "but just with everything I’m doing right now, and I’m under contract with NBC, and seeing that through, I think that takes precedent..."

Crawford reportedly took Pope's offer seriously, to the point that he was having real conversations with his wife about the possibility. It's been long worried by Cats fans that Crawford's broadcasting career could get in the way of his quick transition to coaching college hoops. That, of course, is the brutal reality.

All the same, Crawford has "zero" doubt that he'll coach in the future beyond the high school realm. Maybe Kentucky can swoop back in a few years down the road? Just maybe?

The Low Possibility of a Future Team Up

I wouldn't count on it. Not only is staff turnover plainly less common than roster turnover, but we simply have no idea how Kentucky will look, in any capacity, a few years down the road. The prospect of bringing Crawford on was exciting, but at the end of the day, a program can't wait on an assistant coach.

So, in necessary fashion, Pope and his Wildcats will move. I don't expect it'll be too long before we hear about new names entering this conversation now that Crawford has fallen through.

I wouldn't be entirely sure that Crawford is out of the picture until we're sure he's tried the ice cream at Rupp Arena, but for the time being, you can safely take your thumb off of this one.

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