Barely a few days after the conclusion of their post-season run in late April, the Los Angeles Lakers decided to cut ties with head coach Darvin Ham. Since then, the franchise has been looking for a new person to take up the position and restore the team’s glory days. For quite some time now, the potential frontrunner for this position was former Orlando Magic player JJ Redick. However, according to recent reports, the Lakers are now heavily considering current UConn head coach Dan Hurley to take the top spot. Ironically, this current situation seems to have been something that Hurley himself wished he could be a part of a couple of months ago.

About two weeks before Darvin Ham was fired in April, the UConn coach sat down for an interview with longtime radio host Dan Patrick. When asked what would make Hurley leave the 6x NCAA tournament championship team, he highlighted that he would entertain the scenario in only two situations. One, he would leave if he felt that the job had become too exhausting for him or, two – if he found the opportunity to go to the big (or the biggest) basketball league: the NBA itself.

“Maybe down the road, if I could grow up a little bit, mature a bit with the emotions, maybe the NBA,” said Hurley. “You know, down, down the road”.

Well, that ‘down, down the road’ scenario seems to have arrived much quicker than expected. According to ESPN, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss have shown a clear interest in formally discussing what vision the UConn coach would bring in terms of “his tactical acumen and elite player development” and how it would benefit the star roster.

Now, with preliminary contact already made, further discussion from both parties can take place in the coming days. While heading to the NBA franchise will prevent the coach from securing a three-peat record for the UConn Huskies (the team won the NCAA championship in 2023 and 2024), it will be the step up the coach has been looking for.

Dan Hurley’s above-mentioned remarks came at the same time as rumors were spreading that 39-year-old Lakers lead scorer LeBron James was getting frustrated with having Darvin Ham as head coach. According to Lakers Daily Journalist Andrew Irvin, LeBron would allegedly “roll his eyes” whenever the head coach provided instructions before a game. Once Ham was done, and out of earshot, the player would then approach his teammates, say, “f**k all that,” and give out his directives. Given this scenario, what is to indicate that LeBron won’t turn on Dan Hurley if the latter gets the position? Well, if the player’s months-old remark is any indication, he already respects the UConn head coach and his staff more than he did Darvin Ham.

LeBron James was once all praise of Dan Hurley: “So DAMN GOOD!!!”

Barely a few days after his interview with Dan Patrick, Dan Hurley appeared on ‘The Old Man and the Three’ podcast hosted by, ironically, JJ Redick. The duo engaged in a conversation in which the 51-year-old explained how he and his staff developed the ‘Huskie offense’. The basketball tactic has been described by ‘The Athletic’ as the ‘most complex’ and efficient offense in college basketball.

The explanation by the head coach, which he tried to explain as simply yet as detailed as possible, won the respect of LeBron James himself. The All-Time Lead scorer highlighted the interview clip on his official X account and wrote, “He’s so DAMN GOOD!!! Along with his staff. Super creative with their O! Love it”.

Through his remark, the Lakers star player has already blessed Dan Hurley and the rest of his coaching staff. Therefore, although he may not have his podcast partner join in as head coach, LeBron may still manage to form a respectable partnership with the person coming in his stead.

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