​Ever since the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team lost a couple of assistant coaches this offseason, rumors persisted that they would hire former NBA star Jamal Crawford. They added another former NBA player in Mo Williams, but the remaining spot on the staff stayed open, seemingly waiting on Crawford to accept it.However, recently Mark Pope commented on the situation, and all but assured fans that Crawford wasn’t an option, citing his contract with NBC Sports that runs for two more years. On Thursday, Crawford made it official. He told Kentucky Sports Radio:If this were a different time, there’s no doubt. There’s zero doubt. I have such respect for Coach Pope, Coach Mo (Williams), but just with everything I’m doing right now, and I’m under contract with NBC, and seeing that through, I think that takes precedent.Crawford did add that he has “no doubt that I’ll be a coach in the future.” That future could come quickly, and could still involve the Wildcats.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKentucky recently offered J.J. Crawford, a likely top ten recruit in the 2029 class, and Jamal’s son. The ending of the elder Crawford’s NBC contract lines up nicely with the younger Crawford starting his college career. Could both wind up in Lexington? It’s an exciting possibility, but fans will have to wait a few years to find out.This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Jamal Crawford officially makes his decision on the Kentucky job