The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly trying to hire the hottest head coach in college basketball.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Thursday that the Lakers are preparing a massive long-term contract offer for UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley. The Lakers have targeted Hurley since the start of their head coach search, and the two sides have had preliminary discussions about a deal.
Hurley has led UConn to back-to-back national championships and is the most coveted coach in college basketball. He has already turned down one of the most prominent jobs at the collegiate level.
After UConn won its second straight national title in April, Hurley said he only wants to coach college basketball in Storrs. He did not rule out coaching in the NBA “way down the road,” however.
Dan Hurley says the only place he’ll ever coach college basketball is at UConn.
He doesn’t rule out trying the NBA “way down the road.”— Mike Anthony (@ManthonyHearst) April 13, 2024
If Hurley does want to coach in the NBA, it may be hard for him to turn down arguably the most prestigious job in the league. Wojnarowski reports that the Lakers believe Hurley is the best candidate to navigate the roster-building limitations of the current collective bargaining agreement. L.A.’s brass also feels Hurley can help develop their young core of Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Max Christie.
It probably helps that LeBron James, who can decline his $51 million player option and become a free agent this summer, has made it clear that he is a big fan of Hurley.
He’s so DAMN GOOD!!! Along with his staff. Super creative with their O! Love it
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 19, 2024
Hurley has been the head coach at UConn since 2018. He has an overall record of 141-58 with the Huskies. He was the head coach at Rhode Island for six seasons before taking the UConn job and Wagner for two years before that.
The landscape of college basketball has changed dramatically in recent years, and Hurley indicated recently that he is exhausted with one aspect of it. If he does leave UConn for the NBA, that might be a factor in his decision.
