Hurley declined the Lakers offer and is definitely staying with the Huskies
The Los Angeles Lakers were confident they had secured a major win by persuading Dan Hurley, the renowned coach from Connecticut, to transition to the NBA. However, Hurley ultimately decided to remain with UConn, a choice that has sparked extensive analysis and debate.
Hurley, who has established a championship-winning program at Connecticut, stands on the brink of a historic achievement. Next year, he has the opportunity to become the first college coach in over half a century to lead a team to three consecutive national titles.
Despite the allure of coaching the Lakers and the chance to mentor LeBron James, Hurley opted to continue his legacy with the elite NCAA program. He has now shed light on the motivations behind his decision to decline Los Angeles’ offer.
Hurley: What are you talking about? I never needed any “leverage”
On Thursday, Dan Hurley appeared on “The Dan Le Batard Show” to address the rumors surrounding his decision to stay at UConn instead of joining the Los Angeles Lakers. Hurley was quick to dismiss the idea that he used the Lakers’ interest as leverage for a better contract at UConn, calling it “one of the worst takes” he’s ever heard.
“I don’t need leverage here,” Hurley stated firmly. “We’ve won back-to-back national championships at this place.”
Hurley, who signed an extension last year to remain at UConn until 2029, did consider the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer before ultimately turning it down on Monday. Despite the contract potentially making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA, Hurley revealed to Le Batard that a larger financial package might have swayed his decision to move to California.
“To leave (UConn) behind, there probably is a number, (but) I don’t know what that is,” Hurley admitted.
While Hurley might sign a new contract with UConn for a higher annual salary after rejecting the Lakers, it appears that the monetary aspect wasn’t the primary factor in his decision. Instead, the coaching fit and future prospects at UConn seemed to play a more significant role in his choice to stay.
Only time will tell if the Lakers will regret missing out on Hurley or if they will find an even better candidate to lead their team.
