UConn’s Geno Auriemma aims dig at JJ Redick amidst Dan Hurley and Lakers coaching rumors

Geno Auriemma – UConn’s women’s basketball coach – has launched a subtle dig at former NBA player JJ Redick amid rumors that the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in hiring Dan Hurley – leader of the Huskies’ men’s program.

Appearing on ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ on Thursday morning, Auriemma was asked for his take and whether he had any insider knowledge on a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski revealing the Lakers’ pursuit of Hurley. 

The 11-time NCAA champion replied by confirming that he had a conversation with Hurley on Wednesday night, throwing shade at Redick in the process.

‘I happened to be at a thing with [Dan Hurley] last night…’ Auriemma said at first. 

‘I have no idea what’s going on, you know, I have no idea where this is going or what’s happening, but I just leaned over and said, ”Hey, I think you could win a lot of championships with the Lakers, more so than guy who’s never coached.”’

Geno Auriemma – UConn’s women’s basketball coach – took a dig at JJ Redick’s head coaching credentials on ‘The Dan Patrick Show’ when discussing Dan Hurley to the Lakers on Thursday

The Lakers could hand a ‘massive, long-term’ deal to Hurley, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski

He then added: ‘[Hurley] just looked at me and nodded, and we had a good laugh. And I woke up this morning, and somebody sent [the Hurley-Lakers report] to me, and I said, ”You gotta be kidding me.”’

To Auriemma’s point, Redick, who retired in 2015 after 15 NBA seasons, has never been a head coach. Redick, currently an NBA analyst for ESPN, was tipped as the frontrunner in the Lakers’ head coach search earlier this week, by The Athletic’s Shams Charania. 

Now, however, Wojnarowski states in his report from Thursday that Hurley is set to receive a ‘massive, long-term contract offer’ from the Lakers. 

LeBron James is believed to be an admirer of Hurley’s offensive tactics, Wojnarowski reported

Redick has previously said that he will address speculation over his future coaching career after the NBA Finals. 

Hurley, a back-to-back NCAA champion, said on ‘The Mike Francesca Podcast’ earlier this month that he would transitioning to coaching in the NBA ‘if the right situation [came along]. 

The 51-year-old holds a 141-58 record in six seasons as UConn’s men’s basketball coach and signed a six-year, $32.1million extension last season. 

If he were to leave the Huskies this summer, then Hurley would owe the program roughly $1.9million in compensation.

Also, on Thursday, it was revealed that LeBron James is an admirer of Hurley’s offense tactics although the Lakers star doesn’t want to interfere with LA’s head coaching search. 

James is also the co-host of a basketball podcast ‘Mind the Game’ with Redick, a close friend of his.