The game of school basketball does not typically produce large headlines in June — however we obtained one Monday, when Dan Hurley rejected a proposal to be the Lakers’ subsequent coach and opted to stay at UConn.
It is probably the most wise ending to this public pursuit.
To be clear, I’d’ve understood something Hurley determined to do as a result of he had two large and profitable alternatives from which to select — one that may enable him to depart nicely sufficient alone and attempt to win a 3rd nationwide championship with the Huskies subsequent season, one other that may reportedly assure him $70 million to coach skilled basketball’s most glamorous franchise. Both resolution, on some degree, would’ve led to a dream come true for many. However the motive I consider Hurley turning down LA to stay at UConn is probably the most wise ending to this public pursuit is as a result of — and I am admittedly projecting right here, however the reason being as a result of — I actually do consider irrespective of how nicely or badly issues may’ve gone with the Lakers, Hurley would’ve all the time puzzled if he have been proper to forfeit the chance to change into the primary coach since John Picket to win three straight nationwide championships in Division I males’s basketball.
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There’s extra to it, clearly.
(And I am going to get to that.)
However the probability to make actual historical past at a spot you like is a tough factor to forgo — particularly while you’ve assembled a workforce that is listed because the co-favorite (with Kansas) to win the 2025 NCAA Match, based on FanDuel. Additionally onerous: leaving the one time zone you’ve got ever actually recognized, and the one time zone your spouse (Andrea Hurley) has ever actually recognized, to maneuver roughly 3,000 miles away from many of the remainder of your loved ones to teach — sure, the Lakers, but in addition — the franchise that simply completed seventh within the Western Convention with a finest participant (LeBron James) who will flip 40 later this yr. (And that is if the most effective participant even opts into his contract, which reportedly stays up within the air.) Additionally onerous: accepting a $70 million contract after there have been reviews that the Lakers would supply $100 million.
(Aspect be aware: It is doable no cheap and even unreasonable sum of money would’ve gotten this completed for the Lakers. However while you’re pursuing the most popular coach on the earth — one who has already turned down the College of Kentucky, already made it clear he isn’t trying to depart and already made it recognized that his spouse loves residing within the a part of the nation the place they stay — it’s a must to blow him away with the supply should you actually consider he is the man. And I do know this may sound loopy to normal-working People, however a proposal of six years and $70 million now not qualifies as blowing any individual away within the NBA’s teaching market, particularly not when the candidate already has an superior job in place. Had Hurley accepted the Lakers’ supply, he would’ve merely been the second highest-paid coach in LA behind Ty Lue. Given the context of the scenario, I am unsurprised he declined to simply accept.)
I suppose it is doable Hurley will sometime remorse passing on this chance with the Lakers — however, once more, I guess the extra probably hypothetical supply of future remorse would’ve accompanied leaving UConn proper now and beneath these circumstances. Clearly, that is me projecting once more. However I do consider it to be true. Past that, it is vital to grasp that Hurley did not punt on the NBA ceaselessly as a lot as he merely kicked it down the street. He could by no means get the possibility to teach LeBron and the Lakers once more, however he’ll nearly actually be introduced with extra NBA alternatives within the coming years — NBA alternatives in markets nearer to his household’s roots, NBA alternatives the place profitable instantly and massive are extra doable than profitable instantly and massive may’ve been with the Lakers, NBA alternatives that will not require him to stroll away from back-to-back nationwide championships and a workforce constructed to win one other. Put one other means, there will certainly be higher instances for Hurley to depart UConn, and possibly higher NBA jobs for him to simply accept, if he decides sometime to additional pursue this path. I am sure he is aware of and understands that.
So, like I advised Tommy Tran on CBS Sports activities HQ, we might find yourself doing this complete track and dance once more subsequent yr as a result of this won’t be the final time Dan Hurley is linked to an NBA job. However this time, he determined to stay at UConn. And it actually does really feel like that is the place he and his household belong — no less than for now.