In the lead up to the NBA Draft in May, Jerry Tipton spoke with Travis’ father, Nate, about his son’s time at Kentucky. Nate Travis was concerned about his son’s draft status after spending a season with Calipari.
“We felt if he played at Kentucky, he’d have some certainty coming off the season,” he told Tipton. “As a father, I’m a little concerned with that. I thought he’d have a little more of an understanding of when he’d fall in the draft.”
Critics immediately used those comments to throw fuel on their anti-Calipari fire. Even though Reid and his father publicly refuted any negative opinions of Calipari, that statement stuck.