Lakers Lose Out on Top Choice as Dan Hurley Turns Down Head Coach Offer

The Los Angeles Lakers have missed out on their top choice to replace Darvin Ham as head coach, as Dan Hurley has decided to stay at UConn despite being offered a lucrative six-year, $70 million contract by the Lakers. Hurley, a two-time national champion coach, expressed his admiration for Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka but ultimately turned down the offer.

Early reports suggested that the Lakers were considering ESPN NBA analyst JJ Redick, who has no prior coaching experience, as a potential replacement for Ham. However, with Hurley now out of the picture, it remains to be seen if the Lakers will reconsider Redick for the position. Redick, who co-hosts a podcast with Lakers star LeBron James, was reportedly the front-runner before Hurley’s decision.

Despite the initial focus on Redick, it was revealed that Hurley had been the Lakers’ top choice all along. Pelinka and Buss were impressed with Hurley’s coaching abilities and player development skills, believing he could help develop the team’s young players. Hurley recently signed a contract extension with UConn through 2029 after leading the team to back-to-back national championships.

Hurley’s success at UConn has made him one of the most sought-after coaches in the sport, with the potential for a third consecutive championship season on the horizon. The Lakers, however, will have to look elsewhere for their next head coach after missing out on their top candidate.