Tyrese Haliburton Roasts Kentucky's NBA Alumni for Supporting John Calipari's Arkansas

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Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who played college basketball at Iowa State, took to social media to poke fun at former Kentucky players in the NBA who he says have become "Arkansas alumni" now that John Calipari, the former Kentucky coach, has taken over the Razorbacks program. Haliburton's comments came after Kentucky was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, while Calipari's Arkansas team advanced to the Sweet 16.

Why it matters

Haliburton's comments highlight the loyalty and allegiance that often exists between college basketball players and their alma maters, even after they turn professional. The shift in support from Kentucky to Arkansas by some of the Wildcats' NBA alumni also speaks to the influence and reputation of coaches like Calipari, who can attract top talent and fan support even when changing programs.

The details

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Haliburton said he "went to text the guys who played at Kentucky about this game and forgot they think they Arkansas alum now." He included a laughing emoji, poking fun at the former Kentucky players who have seemingly shifted their allegiance to support Calipari and the Razorbacks in the NCAA Tournament. Some of the notable Kentucky alumni in the NBA include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Maxey, Reed Sheppard, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Devin Booker.

• On Sunday, March 22, 2026, Kentucky lost to Iowa State 82-63 in the NCAA Tournament.
• Also on Sunday, March 22, 2026, Arkansas, coached by former Kentucky coach John Calipari, defeated High Point 94-88 to advance to the Sweet 16.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Haliburton will continue to recover from his torn Achilles tendon and look to return to the court for the Indiana Pacers as soon as possible.