Los Angeles Lakers supporters have been inundating University of Connecticut head coach Dan Hurley with direct messages since the franchise completed a blockbuster trade for superstar guard Luka Doncic.
Hurley, who guided UConn to back-to-back NCAA titles, was the Lakers’ top coaching target last summer. Although he met with general manager Rob Pelinka and weighed the offer, the 51-year-old ultimately chose to stay in Storrs. Los Angeles then hired former player and podcaster JJ Redick, a move that has paid immediate dividends.
During an appearance on “The Zach Lowe Show,” Hurley said his initial connection with the Lakers began a year before those formal talks. He recalled a 15- to 20-minute phone call with Pelinka about 2023 draft prospects Jordan Hawkins and Andre Jackson Jr., which left him “really impressed” with the executive’s attention to detail. That conversation, Hurley explained, created “a baseline of respect” that made the later job offer appealing.
Hurley also noted that he leans on a tight network when making major career decisions, citing ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski as one of his first calls in such moments.
Fast-forward to the present, and Hurley is hearing from frustrated Lakers fans who believe he passed on a rare opportunity. “A majority of it is Lakers fans direct messaging you that you’re the biggest moron,” he said, acknowledging the flood of criticism. “Look how stupid you are.”
Few foresaw the Lakers acquiring Doncic, who is in the prime of his career, making the deal one of the most surprising transactions in recent NBA history outside Dallas. While Hurley focuses on rebounding from a disappointing season at UConn, Redick and Doncic are pursuing another championship banner for Los Angeles.
Doncic recently shared that his first true “I’m a Laker” moment came the night he suited up for his new team, providing an early jolt of excitement for the organization and its fan base.
Source: Lakers Nation
