LeBron James and Dan Hurley exchanged some text messages over the weekend before the UConn head coach made his decision.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ failed attempt to lure Dan Hurley from UConn to be their next head coach drew a ton of attention earlier in the week. The two-time national champion turned down the Lakers’ offer for a chance to go back to Connecticut.
There is a silver lining in everything. Even though the Lakers weren’t able to get their preferred candidate, they got more insight into where LeBron James’ head is ahead of free agency.
Hurley joined Colin Cowherd’s show “The Herd” on Thursday and disclosed his interaction with the 39-year-old superstar. He said that LeBron texted him over the past weekend and offered his support to the UConn head coach.
LeBron James Tried To Recruit Dan Hurley to the Lakers
This is excellent news for Lakers fans. If LeBron James is out there trying to recruit the next head coach, it presumably means that he is staying with the Lakers.
LeBron James has a player option for the 2024-25 season. The expectation is that he would decline that and sign a lucrative, multi-year deal. The Lakers have obviously been the frontrunners to re-sign him but LeBron hasn’t made his intentions clear.
Up until now.
Despite the widespread belief that LeBron prefers his podcast co-host JJ Redick as the next head coach, his reaching out to Hurley to discuss basketball and the Lakers means that he is still committed to staying in LA, regardless of who the head coach is.
Now, the ball is in the front office’s court. Not only do they need to make sure LeBron gets what he wants financially, but they also have to surround him with the right head coach and an improved
Apr 8, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts against the Purdue Boilermakers in the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts against the Purdue Boilermakers in the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports / Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers’ head-coaching saga got even spicier this week, as the team’s pursuit of UConn Dan Hurley came to a screeching halt following his decision to stick with the Huskies. Many are disappointed the back-to-back national champ passed on taking the Lakers job considering the leadership and player development skills he’s displayed during his strong run in the college ranks.
However, it turns out it’s not just UConn alumni who are happy Hurley isn’t departing for Los Angeles.
Former Lakers guard JR Smith relayed his thoughts on the situation on Twitter/X. In a video posted to his account, Smith noted he felt Hurley had it too good with the Huskies to leave. Additionally, he threw some shade at the Lakers, saying, “looking at what the Lakers got going on right now, and seeing their past situations, I just know it would be a better fit for him to stay where he was at.”
In a follow-up tweet, Smith added that Hurley “has an opportunity to go down as one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history.”
Smith has a close connection to Hurley, who coached him in high school at St. Benedict’s in New Jersey, so he’s got skin in the game on both sides here as an ex-LA player as well. Yet it seems the former high flyer is way more focused on Hurley’s well-being here than the Lakers, who are in desperate need of a true leader on the bench.
It’s a bit of a surprise to see Smith so outspoken against Los Angeles hiring Hurley. He also tweeted a warning to his former coach while the Lakers’ pursuit ramped up.
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