By ADAM ZAGORIA
Jay Wright says he’s intrigued by the NBA, but plans to stay at Villanova.
Wright, who is now only the third active Division 1 men’s coach with more than one NCAA championship, has been linked to the openings with the Knicks and Phoenix Suns.
He told Dana O’Neil of The Athletic that although he’d like to coach in the NBA, he doesn’t plan on leaving Villanova anytime soon.
After reaching the Final Four in 2009, Wright was offered the Kentucky job, but turned it down. He also spoke with the Philadelphia 76ers, but then asked to have his name taken out of consideration, per ESPN. The last time Villanova won the title in 2016, Wright was immediately linked to several NBA jobs, but then said he loved being at Villanova. Villanova loses Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson to the NBA Draft but figures to be in the mix for yet another Final Four in 2019, especially if Phil Booth, Donte DiVincenzo, Eric Paschall and Omari Spellman all return, when they will be joined by a recruiting class of Jahvon Quinerly, Brandon Slater and Cole Swider. Meantime, Villanova is active with several key Class of 2019 recruits, including Cole Anthony, Bryan Antoine, Scottie Lewis and Joe Girard. Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter And Like ZAGS on FacebookAs for Jay Wright, here’s what he told @DanaONeilWriter this week about jumping to the NBA https://t.co/4vtlu3EGPK pic.twitter.com/JX1xDX5AlU
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) April 12, 2018
