There’s no question that a wide variety of different factors played a role in Dan Hurley‘s decision to return to UConn and turn down the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job. Offered a six-year, $70 million contract from Los Angeles but instead decided to pursue a third-straight national championship with the Huskies at the college level.
One of the appealing aspects of the Lakers job that was widely discussed was the potential opportunity for Hurley to coach LeBron James. Who will look to continue adding to his storied legacy ahead of his 22nd year in the league next season. But James returning to Los Angeles next season is not a guarantee.
Hurley joined The Dan LeBatard Show after interviewing and turning down the Lakers job and was his uncut and authentic self per usual. But when he was asked if he got a firm answer during his interview process about James being a Laker next season, he had to switch up his approach.
“Oh man, I’ve been so honest the whole way too and now I’m gonna start — I can’t answer, there was no definitive (answer),” Hurley said. “I think anyone that’s gonna take that position there is anticipating you’re going to get a chance to coach one of the top two or three players of all time.”
James is eligible to opt out of the final year of his contract to become a free agent, with him returning to Los Angeles under a new deal seeming like the most likely scenario. But with James’ free-agency history throughout his lengthy career and storylines like potentially teaming up with son Bronny James who has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, anything seems possible.
“I just think the exciting thing about coaching LeBron is in your mind, or any of these great players in the NBA. If you show up with incredible work ethic and you have an incredible level of expertise of all aspects of the art of coaching and then if you’re authentic, honest, and a strong leader, you’re gonna get the respect,” Hurley explained.
“Whether you played in the NBA, whether you’ve coached in the NBA, there’s obvious adjustments that you’d have to make to do it. But just great players like that, like all-time great players, they just want those things in the coach that’s leading the organization.”
Many were curious how Hurley’s fiery and intense coaching style would coexist with James and the Lakers’ other veteran players. Which will now just represent a what-if scenario in basketball history.
Former NBA player and current analyst J.J. Redick formally interviewed for the Los Angeles head coaching job this weekend, who also co-hosts the Mind the Game podcast alongside James. And between the hiring of a new coach in Los Angeles and James’ decision with the franchise, all eyes will most definitely be on the Lakers this offseason.
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