The Lakers and Connecticut coach Dan Hurley are in contact about Los Angeles’ head-coaching vacancy, team and league sources confirmed Thursday.
The Lakers are preparing a long-term contract offer to the 51-year-old Hurley, according to ESPN, which first reported the talks. Hurley has led UConn to back-to-back national championships, elevating his status as the top active coach in college basketball. Hurley, who began his coaching career at the high school level, has not coached in the NBA, but built the Huskies into a powerhouse that is 52-5 in its last 57 games.
His move to Los Angeles would be significant for a Lakers team coming off a first-round playoff exit. Los Angeles is hopeful of keeping star LeBron James, who must decide whether to exercise his $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season by June 29.
James appears to be a fan. In April, responding to an interview JJ Redick conducted with Hurley for his podcast, James wrote on X: “He’s so DAMN GOOD!!! Along with his staff. Super creative with their O! Love it.”
A move would also send shockwaves throughout college basketball, with the coach of its preeminent program — and one of the faces of the sport — departing late in the calendar, nearly two months after most coaching carousel activity. Connecticut was poised to be a preseason top-10 team and a contender to win its third consecutive national championship.
The Lakers’ search has also focused on Redick, the ESPN broadcaster and former NBA player, and New Orleans Pelicans associate head coach James Borrego. Redick was the first candidate to have a face-to-face meeting with the Lakers three weeks ago, and Borrego did an in-person interview with Lakers officials for a second time last week and the franchise has been impressed with him during the process, according to team sources. Los Angeles fired Darvin Ham on May 3 after two seasons.
This story will be updated.
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