Dan Hurley understandably turns down Lakers rather than walk away from a possible three-peat at UConn

Hurley made the right call by staying at place where he belongs and avoiding a less-than-ideal situation in Los Angeles

By Gary Parrish Jun 10, 2024 at 7:47 pm ET• 3 min read

The sport of college basketball doesn't often produce big headlines in June -- but we got one Monday, when Dan Hurley rejected an offer to be the Lakers' next coach and opted to remain at UConn.

It's the most sensible ending to this public pursuit.

To be clear, I would've understood anything Hurley decided to do because he had two big and lucrative opportunities from which to pick -- one that would allow him to leave well enough alone and try to win a third national championship with the Huskies next season, another that would reportedly guarantee him $70 million to coach professional basketball's most glamorous franchise. Either decision, on some level, would've led to a dream come true for most. But the reason I believe Hurley turning down LA to remain at UConn is the most sensible ending to this public pursuit is because -- and I'm admittedly projecting here, but the reason is because -- I really do believe no matter how well or badly things might've gone with the Lakers, Hurley would've always wondered if he were right to forfeit the opportunity to become the first coach since John Wooden to win three straight national championships in Division I men's basketball.

There's more to it, obviously.

(And I'll get to that.)