Danny Hurley, the two-time defending national champion coach at UConn, recently declined an offer to lead the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most storied franchises in sports.
Despite the potential allure of coaching LeBron James in the latter stages of his illustrious career and enjoying the favorable climate of Southern California, Hurley opted to remain in the northeast, aiming for a third consecutive NCAA title with UConn.
LeBron James himself reached out to Hurley over the weekend, hoping to sway his decision.
“We had some text messages, incredible messages from him over the course of the weekend, talking about basketball and some different things, and letting me know that if I was there in LA, I’d have his support.
Think about that man, that blew my mind,” Hurley shared about his interaction with James. The exchange continued even as Hurley ultimately decided to pursue a different path.
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Dan Hurley on a text exchange with LeBron:
“An incredible message from him… Letting me know that if he was there in LA, that I’d have his support. Just think about that, man. That blew my mind… When you get a text message from LeBron James.”
(via @TheHerd) pic.twitter.com/auKNsBE2jK
— Witness King James (@WITNESSKJ) June 13, 2024
Turning down the Lakers is not common for coaches, given the franchise’s prestigious history.
Hurley had several reasons for his decision, including what he felt was an inadequate contract offer. Another unspoken but significant consideration might be the current state of the Lakers’ roster.
With LeBron nearing 40 and Anthony Davis past his prime, the team lacks youthful assets and doesn’t have many future draft picks available for trades, given NBA regulations.
With Hurley out of the picture, the Lakers’ coaching search has pivoted toward JJ Redick, a former NBA sharpshooter and current ESPN analyst. Redick’s familiarity with LeBron could be a key factor in this decision.
LeBron has an opt-out clause in his contract this year but is expected to remain with the Lakers for the upcoming season.
