(AP)

Earlier today, my esteemed colleague Nate Scott listed eight reasons why Kentucky coach John Calipari should go to the NBA. Every reason is compelling, rational and worth Calipari’s consideration. But, I’d like to politely counter my friend and I’ll do so in six fewer reasons because Calipari going to the NBA is just plain insane.

1. Never let ego and greed guide a decision.

Mark Zerof/USA TODAY Sports

Those are the two reasons Calipari would leave Kentucky. He’ll get more money in the NBA — though I’m sure Kentucky and its boosters could find a way to come close to matching — but that’s no knock — no one should ever begrudge a person the desire to take a bigger salary. But if money is the main reason for the decision, then Coach Cal should reevaluate. Decisions made solely for money often don’t work out well and the writing is all over the wall on this one: Coaching in the NBA for four years for more money, failing again and then having to wait for another good college job to open? Or stay at Kentucky where the job is his as long as he wants it? Short-term gains often don’t outweigh long-term investments.

“But he’s done everything he can do at Kentucky.”

Baloney. As is stands right now, Calipari has one — ONE — title to his name, same as Kevin Ollie, Tubby Smith, Jim Harrick and Steve Fisher. If he wins the title this year, he’ll have two, same as Roy Williams and Billy Donovan, a coach who’s seven years his junior. Those two titles will be half as many as Mike Krzyzewski. And there’s also the tiny matter of catching Adolph Rupp (four titles) to become the greatest coach in Kentucky history. If that’s not motivation, I don’t know what is. Right now, John Calipari is a great college coach. But he’s far from a legend, 40-0 or not.

And don’t give boredom as an excuse. You know what’s boring? Everything about the 82-game regular season of the NBA. The rush of playing 20 crucial home games in basketball-crazed Lexington versus the complete monotony of coaching 41 meaningless games in an apathetic D.C., where the crowd gets loudest for free giveaways and T-shirt cannons, then spends the rest of the time praying the Redskins get good again so they can stop caring about the Wizards? That’s boredom, my friend.

The NBA: It’s -tastic. (AP)

I can see how recruiting 18-year-old kids can be awful. Basically begging a teenager to come play for you — “I need you” — while their parents, who are younger than you, sit and listen intently, has to get old very quickly. I’ve always believed Maryland’s Gary Williams retired because he couldn’t take that part of the job. Sucking up to kids is beneath some people.

But Calipari seems to live for it and, not only that, he’s really, really good at it. Why else do you think he has nine All-Americans on his team? In an alternate universe, Cal would be the greatest used car salesman in history. Not only could he sell ice to an eskimo, he could sell a bathing suit and swim cap too.

2. College basketball is a coach’s game. The NBA is a player’s game.

(USA TODAY Sports Images)

The reason I brought up the Wizards before is because it’s looking like they may have a vacancy to fill at the end of the season and John Wall, who Calipari coached at Kentucky, is the star of that team. But here’s how topsy-turvy the NBA coaching world is: Wizards coach Randy Wittman was given a multi-year extension eight months ago. And now he’s about to be out on the street?

Coaches are frequently fired because players won’t play for them: Who has more power, the forward making $21 million a year or the coach making $8 million? The NBA isn’t the NFL, where coaches still maintain control. The NBA is a basic free-for-all where, unless you’re Gregg Popovich and have a stable corps of future Hall of Famers and an even-keeled attitude, you’ll either burn out soon or get canned before you do. In the Eastern Conference, the coach with the longest tenure was hired June 23, 2010.

(Getty Images)

Calipari knows this. He’s done it before. His firing from the Nets came became he was rude, abrasive and unsuccessful. He’s said to want back in the NBA to prove he can do it. But to who? And for what? Though the NBA is more popular than the NCAA, its coaches aren’t — not at all.  Popovich is barely a household name and he’s the best coach of the past 20 years. Besides Phil Jackson, name another beloved NBA coach from the past 40 years? You can’t. The NBA uses you, then it loses you.

Even if Cal is successful in the NBA, he’d still be capable of getting canned a few years later. When the choice is between becoming a legend in college or just another NBA also-ran, the decision is clear. Expect Cal to make the wrong one though. Ego outweighs everything.