University of Kentucky head coach John Calipari is a longtime friend of New York Knicks president Leon Rose, so it's no surprise that Cal has confidence that Rose will thrive in his new gig.

On a conference call, Calipari explained a certain quality that Rose possesses that will enable him to excel where his predecessors haven't: “He's a gatherer,” Cal said. “And I believe that's what the Knicks need right now, a gather who can bring things together and make it a culture that players want to be in because they know, ‘this is about all of us.'”

The friendship between Calipari and Rose dates back decades, through Rose's career as a prolific agent. Rose was officially announced as the latest recipient of the keys to James Dolan's car on March 2nd.

In his welcome statement, Rose also noted the importance of forging relationships and fostering a culture. “In my career as an agent, I experienced the intricacies of the League, player recruitment and most importantly, how to develop relationships, unity and team cohesiveness…To be successful in the NBA, you need the best talent, a tireless work ethic, a winning culture and a total commitment to the development of both the individual and the team. I know that the ability to forge solid, productive relationships is what binds all that together.”

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Calipari praised Rose for his lack of ego despite all his success, and said Rose was the “same guy” in high school “that he is today.”

The close relationship between the two sparked rumors about Calipari returning to NBA sidelines to helm the Knicks under Rose, but the Kentucky coach shot down that possibility in February.

In Rose's long career as an agent, he represented superstars ranging from Allen Iverson to Carmelo Anthony to LeBron James to Joel Embiid.