Basketball coach Dan Hurley turns down $70 million LA Lakers contract

Basketball Coach Dan Hurley made headlines recently when he turned down a lucrative $70 million contract offer from the LA Lakers. This decision has sparked much debate and speculation among sports analysts and fans alike.

Many are questioning Hurley's motives for rejecting such a substantial offer, especially considering the financial security it would have provided for him and his family. Some believe that Hurley's loyalty to his current team and players played a significant role in his decision, as he may have felt a strong sense of commitment to them.

Dan Hurley became the new face of men's college basketball when he and his UConn Huskies wrapped up a second consecutive national title this past April, catapulting the head coach into company with Mike Krzyzewski and Billy Donovan as the only men's college coaches to win back-to-back titles in the last 40 years. Hurley has images of John Wooden around his office, and looks to the basketball legend as an inspiration, wanting to join him as the only other men's college hoops coach to win three consecutive national titles.

ESPN reported the Lakers had tried to lure Hurley away from UConn with a “massive long-term contract offer.” Last year, Hurley signed a $32.1 million contract that would keep him at UConn until March 2029. Before talks with the Lakers began this spring, the 51-year-old already had an offer from UConn to become one of the highest-paid NCAA coaches, and those talks will continue, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Hurley was named 2024 Naismith College Coach of the Year in April after the Huskies won a second straight national title.

His leadership has transformed the Huskies into a perennial powerhouse, blending tactical brilliance with an unwavering focus on player development. This dedication has not only brought success on the court but has also instilled a culture of excellence and resilience within the program.

Lakers fans were already bracing themselves for dark days ahead with their bitter rivals, the Boston Celtics, just two wins away from capturing the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

If Boston can beat the Dallas Mavericks two more times this series, the Celtics will have 18 NBA titles. They're now tied with the Lakers for the most.

With Hurley no longer on the table, the club could now be focused on hiring a former NBA player. The Athletic reported last week that former Duke star and ESPN broadcaster J.J. Redick was a front-runner.

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Sarah H

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