Woj finally reveals the real reason why Dan Hurley rejected the Lakers

On By Rgal Nv

Dan Hurley caused a stir when he rejected a six-year, $70 million offer from the Lakers to become their next head coach.

The deal was worth more than double what Hurley currently makes, but he chose to stay at UConn instead.

Now, as the dust settles after the initial news, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has provided details on why Hurley turned down the Lakers’ offer.

Woj spilled the beans during a conversation with SportsCenter’s Scott Van Pelt late Monday night.

“A few factors, Scott, starting with the chance to win a third straight national championship, is doing something that hasn’t been done since John Wooden’s Bruins,” Wojnarowski said. “You’ll probably never get the chance to do that again as a head coach.”

“But I think the timing of going to the NBA…I think he thinks he’ll be in the NBA one day, but he wasn’t ready to go right now.”

Van Pelt then raised the possibility that the extreme demands of the NBA were another potential factor.

“Hurley is a guy who exploits every possession,” Van Pelt said. “I was just wondering about the enormity of what the NBA demands of you. And did he have the equipment? In other words, I’m talking about an ability to not exhaust every half-court possession on a Tuesday night in Memphis. You know what I’m saying? Do you think some of that landed with him?

Wojnarowski wholeheartedly agreed.

“You’re absolutely right, Scott,” he said. “And I think it comes down to being prepared at 51. And it’s not just, you know, that Tuesday night in Sacramento or Memphis, but it’s the practices. They are the referees. It’s about working with management, something you don’t have to do as a college coach. You are the general manager.

For now, the Lakers are back to the drawing board, as their coaching search continues.

JJ Redick and James Borrego are both reportedly still under consideration for the position.

READ MORE: Lakers Fail in Pursuit of Dan Hurley Called ‘Embarrassing’