Dan Hurley has reportedly turned down the chance to join the Los Angeles Lakers on a six-year, $70million deal.
The UConn coach passed up the opportunity to coach LeBron James and will instead remain with the Huskies and chase a third-straight national title.
The news was first reported by ESPN, who claim Hurley would have been among the NBA’s six highest-paid coaches in Los Angeles.
The 51-year-old would have more than doubled his existing salary. Back in 2023, Hurley signed a six-year $32.1m 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.
The Lakers had been pursuing Hurley for several weeks but will now be forced to look elsewhere, with JJ Redick one name linked with the job.
Los Angeles fired coach Darvin Ham last month, following Los Angeles’ defeat by the Denver Nuggets in the NBA playoffs.
According to ESPN, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka told 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.
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