Dan Hurley ultimately decided to remain at UConn, turning down an opportunity to coach the Los Angeles Lakers. Hurley’s decision was influenced by the unique opportunity he has at UConn to potentially win a third straight NCAA Championship, which hasn’t been accomplished since John Wooden’s UCLA teams.
Hurley carefully considered the differences between coaching in college and the NBA, recognizing the adjustments he would need to make. While the Lakers were interested in his program-building skills, player development expertise, and coaching acumen, Hurley realized he wasn’t fully prepared to transition to coaching at the NBA level.
Despite the lucrative offer from the Lakers, which would have made him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NBA, Hurley opted to stay at UConn. He had already negotiated a new contract with UConn that made him one of the highest-paid college basketball coaches before the Lakers’ offer even came into play.
While Hurley was intrigued by the opportunity to work with top NBA players like Anthony Davis and LeBron James, he ultimately felt that he wasn’t ready to make the move at this point in his career. It wasn’t solely about the financial aspect, but more about his readiness to take on the challenges of coaching in the NBA.
Overall, Hurley’s decision to stay at UConn and decline the Lakers’ offer was based on his self-assessment of his coaching readiness and his dedication to his current program. The Lakers were also taking a risk by expecting Hurley to seamlessly transition to the NBA coaching environment, underscoring the complexity of the decision beyond just financial considerations.
