A former Kansas basketball star may be staying with the program as part of the staff for the 2025-26 season. According to Shreyas Laddha, who covers KU for The Kansas City Star, head coach Bill Self said that KJ Adams will have a place on the KU staff.
Laddha, who posted the news on X, also mentioned that the specific role Adams will hold has not been announced.
Adams, of course, is a Self and fan favorite who used up his eligibility at KU once this past season ended. After getting little playing time as a freshman, Adams exploded during his sophomore season, earning the Big 12’s Most Improved Player. That season, he averaged 10.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
He showed overall improvement in his junior season, though not as big of a jump as he did the previous year. Still, he was an effective inside/outside player, averaging 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. Although his senior season was somewhat uneven, he still finished his career with 1,136 points, 496 rebounds, and 2622 assists.
What can KJ Adams bring to the Kansas basketball staff?
As a player, Adams was able to overcome a slight lack of overall basketball skill with intelligence, athleticism, and a strong work ethic. Though his career shooting percentage was an excellent 58.8, that was built upon his ability to be efficient around the basket. He never really developed a shot outside of about 12 feet.
Despite that lack of polished talent, Adams always gave 100 percent in his effort. He would do the dirty work, often guarding players much smaller and much bigger than he was. Adams would dive for balls, set picks, and take charges. He was the emotional catalyst for all of the teams he played on.
That kind of effort and heart, plus his unquestionable love for the Jayhawks, make him a great addition to the program in whatever capacity they put him in. If he’s to work his way up to an assistant coach eventually, his attitude could never be questioned as anything but positive.
The Kansas basketball staff needed to get younger, and they have this offseason. While Adams probably won’t start as an assistant coach, just having him work in the program with the players will instill in them the passion for the game and the intensity needed to play for a school like Kansas.
Adding Adams to the staff in whatever capacity is a very positive thing for the Jayhawks and a smart move by Self. Hopefully, Adams’ love for the game and intensity will transfer to whatever Kansas players he comes into contact with.