Los Angeles, California – The Los Angeles Lakers have set their sights on UConn head men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley to fill their vacant head coaching position, causing quite a stir in and around the NBA. The unexpected interest in Hurley by the Lakers has surprised many within the basketball community.
According to reports from ESPN NBA insider Zach Lowe on The Lowe Post podcast, the buzz surrounding Hurley’s potential move to the Lakers caught even coaching agents off guard. The sudden emergence of Hurley as a candidate for the head coaching role in Los Angeles came as a shock to many, as there had been no prior indications or rumors of such a development within the industry.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski revealed that the Lakers were preparing a significant offer to entice Hurley away from UConn and bring him on board as their new head coach following the departure of Darvin Ham. Before Hurley entered the picture, the Lakers had interviewed several other candidates for the role, including JJ Redick, Sam Cassell, David Adelman, and James Borrego.
Despite earlier reports suggesting that Redick was a frontrunner for the job, recent updates now indicate that the Lakers are focusing their attention on Hurley. Sources have confirmed that the team met with Hurley on Friday to discuss the coaching opportunity.
The transition from coaching in college to the professional level can be challenging, as many successful college coaches have struggled in the NBA in the past. However, Hurley boasts an impressive track record with back-to-back national championships at UConn, showcasing his ability to lead a team to success at the highest level of college basketball.
If Hurley were to join the Lakers, he would have the opportunity to coach star players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, providing him with a solid foundation to build a championship-caliber team in Los Angeles. Despite the allure of coaching in the NBA, the move would not be without risks, as Hurley has the security of a successful tenure at UConn.