Dan Hurley has turned down the Los Angeles Lakers’ offer to become their next head coach, opting to stay with the University of Connecticut. According to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander, Hurley rejected a six-year, $70 million deal from one of the NBA’s most storied franchises. Hurley, who has led UConn to back-to-back national championships, will remain in the collegiate ranks.
With Hurley out of the equation, the Lakers will likely revisit their pursuit of other prominent candidates, specifically ESPN broadcaster JJ Redick and New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego. Before Hurley emerged as the leading candidate, Redick was reportedly the frontrunner, viewed as a “Pat Riley-like coaching prospect.” Redick, who co-hosts the podcast “Mind the Game” with Lakers star LeBron James, has garnered significant interest despite his lack of head coaching experience.
James Borrego, who has already interviewed with the Lakers, previously served as the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets for four years before joining the Pelicans as an assistant coach. Other names initially considered for the position included Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell, Nuggets assistant coach David Adelman, Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, and Heat assistant Chris Quinn.
Transitioning from college coaching to the NBA has historically been challenging. In the past 30 years, eleven college coaches without prior NBA head coaching experience have made the jump, amassing a combined record of 1,483–1,797, according to CBS Sports research. Notable exceptions like Brad Stevens and Billy Donovan have found success, but only Larry Brown has won championships at both the collegiate and NBA levels.
Hurley, despite his decision to remain at UConn, has expressed interest in the NBA in the future. In an April appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, he mentioned “burnout” as a potential factor for leaving college coaching and acknowledged that the NBA would appeal to him once he matures emotionally.
LeBron James has publicly praised Dan Hurley, calling him a “damn good” coach on social media. However, Hurley will not be joining the Lakers, leaving the franchise to continue its search for a long-term head coach. Since Phil Jackson’s retirement in 2011, the Lakers have cycled through six head coaches, and Hurley was seen as a candidate who could bring stability akin to Jackson and Riley.
With the NBA Draft approaching, the Lakers aim to finalize their coaching decision soon. They are expected to draft Bronny James, pairing him with his father, LeBron, in the second round. Ensuring the next head coach has a strong focus on player development will be crucial for the Lakers as they plan for the future.
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