Dan Hurley turns down Los Angeles Lakers, will remain coach of UCONN Huskies

The Los Angeles Lakers may have been knocked out of the playoffs back in late April, but they are still managing to make headlines in the thick of the NBA Finals. A little over a month after firing their former head coach Darvin Ham, they are still in the hunt for a new head coach.

Hurley staying put

Last week, reports suggested that the Lakers had JJ Redick at the top of their list of coaches they were targeting to fill in on the sidelines at Crypto.com Arena. The speculation surrounding the current ESPN color commentator was short lived, and just a day later UCONN head coach Dan Hurley’s name jumped to the top of the list.

After traveling west to meet the decision makers in LA on Thursday, the Huskies coach said they made a “compelling case” leaving Hurley “extremely expressed” with the GM Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss. According to ESPN, Hurley left California on Saturday and pledged to make a decision today.

Hurley, the son of a hall of fame high school coach, and brother of Duke legend Bobby Hurley, has built up a dynasty in the college ranks in a day and age where the transfer portal has flipped the sport upside down. The prospect of a third straight title was too tempting to lure him away from the Harry A. Gample Pavilion, and ultimately he turned down the six-year $70 million dollar contract to join the Lakers.