Dan Hurley reportedly turned down the opportunity to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a six-year, $70 million contract.
The UConn coach passed up the opportunity to coach LeBron James and will instead remain with the Huskies and go for a third straight national title.
The news was first reported by ESPNwho claim that Hurley would have been among the six highest-paid NBA coaches in Los Angeles.
The 51-year-old would have more than doubled his current salary. In 2023, Hurley signed a six-year, $32.1 million contract with Connecticut.
He has never coached in the NBA and has been in charge of the Huskies since 2018, leading them to NCAA titles in both 2023 and 2024.
Dan Hurley reportedly turned down the opportunity to join the Lakers on a six-year, $70 million contract.
The Lakers had been pursuing Hurley for several weeks. He reportedly traveled to Los Angeles on Thursday night before meeting with team officials on Friday.
hurley told ESPN on Sunday that the NBA giants had presented a “compelling case” and that was “extremely impressed” with vice president and general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss.
But the opportunity to win a historic third consecutive NCAA crown proved too good to turn down. UConn and Hurley will now reportedly continue talks on a deal to make him one of the highest-earning players in college basketball.
The Lakers will now be forced to look elsewhere, with JJ Redick, co-host of James’ podcast, a name linked to the job. Meanwhile, Pelicans assistant James Borrego has had two in-person interviews.
Los Angeles fired coach Darvin Ham last month following Los Angeles’ loss to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA playoffs.
The UConn coach passed up the opportunity to coach LeBron James and an NBA giant
According ESPNLakers general manager Rob Pelinka informed Ham of the team’s decision during a phone call.
Mike Budenholzer, Kenny Atkinson, Redick and Clippers coach Ty Lue were among those initially believed to be the frame.
Ham led Los Angeles to the Western Conference finals less than a year ago in his first season as an NBA head coach.
He had replaced Frank Vogel, who was fired by the Lakers exactly 18 months after winning the franchise’s 17th championship in 2020.