Once you start winning, it turns into an obsession. When Dan Hurley won the NCAA title in 2023, he felt that same rush. He needed more. The following year gave him just that, with another championship win. But success and fame go hand in hand as the mastermind realized when a call from the Lakers interrupted his TV time with family.

The LA franchise had infamously dismissed their HC, Darvin Ham, and was looking for his successor. Their search led them to the doors of the newly honored Naismith College Coach of the Year. But what happened next was beyond anyone’s expectations. While the majority anticipated the coach would take up the Lakers‘ responsibility and unlock a new achievement in the NBA, he chose a different path. Hurley turned down the most successful Western Conference team and the reason behind such a move has now been disclosed.

The question was candidly addressed by the missus on In Depth with Graham Bensinger. When the host wanted to know what stood out for her during their visit to Los Angeles, Andrea quickly answered, “It felt yucky because we have it’s like you’re cheating on your family.” She further added, “It felt wrong, but felt so right.” In his six years with the Connecticut, Hurley had built a strong, family-like bond with the Huskies. So meeting the Lakers felt like betraying the family to his wife.

Deeper Issues in the NBA?

However, Andrea didn’t shy away from admitting the remarkable experience she had at the Lakers office with Jeanie Buss and Co. She stated, “I’m sitting at the table and I was like, you know, looking at the colors and the Lakers sign and just like, wow. This is numbing. You know, it’s amazing. And then you’re seeing all the people you only see on TV.” All of these factors made her emotional, as she couldn’t believe Hurley was wanted for the role.

She was proud of how far her husband had reached and stated that she would have supported him even if he had taken the Lakers’ job. But the glamorous world couldn’t lure Hurley, who decided to stick with Connecticut.

Hurley’s Motivation to Stay

Rejecting an approximately $70 million offer from Rob Pelinka and the Lakers might appear absurd to some, but Dan Hurley had thought it through. The 51-year-old shared the heartwarming reason for not taking up the NBA job. He stated, “I love being a part of this transformation for the last point in a young man’s life where you can really have a big impact on how their life is going to play out. Like what the man becomes.” That is something he believed he wouldn’t get to do in an NBA team. No wonder why his team admires him so much.

The Difference Between College and Pro Coaching

Dan Hurley sees himself as a coach, with the set aim of teaching basketball. In the NCAA you can coach players, but in the NBA you manage characters and egos when it comes to mega franchises like the Lakers. For now, Hurley is engrossed in impacting the young UConn lives, eyeing a three-peat. However, the question fans are now asking themselves is basically- would the LA franchise have been better off sticking with Darvin Ham (despite the tension with LeBron) or pursuing Dan Hurley further with a better vision?

JJ Redick is confident but he’ll be making his debut at a crucial turning point for the Lakers, considering King James’ age. And seeing how poorly the trade window has been, will the ex-ESPN sportscaster and his experienced coaching unit be able to hold up the Purple and Gold standard?