NBA: UConn coach Dan Hurley turns down Lakers

UConn head coach Dan Hurley has turned down the Los Angeles Lakers to remain in Storrs, multiple outlets reported Monday.

Hurley, 51, spurned a reported six-year, $70 million offer from the Lakers that would have made him one of the six highest-paid coaches in the league. Hurley met with the Lakers late last week and told ESPN that general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss had made a "compelling case."

Hurley, instead, will pursue a third straight national championship as coach of the Huskies.

"I am humbled by this entire experience," Hurley said in a statement on UConn's Twitter/X page Monday. "At the end of the day, I am extremely proud of the championship culture we have built at Connecticut. We met as a team before today's workout and our focus right now is getting better this summer and connecting as a team as we continue to pursue championships."

The Lakers fired Darvin Ham on May 3 after just two seasons.

Hurley, who guided the Huskies to back-to-back NCAA championships the past two seasons, traveled to Los Angeles on Thursday, met with the Lakers on Friday and went back to Connecticut on Saturday.

Hurley has posted a 141-58 record while leading UConn to four NCAA Tournament appearances during his six seasons at the helm. He had a 38-23 record during two seasons as the head coach at Wagner (2010-12) and a 113-82 mark in six campaigns with Rhode Island (2012-18). — Field Level Media/Reuters