The decision by Connecticut basketball coach Dan Hurley to turn down the Los Angeles Lakers’ long-term contract offer has been met with mass reaction this week, including an interesting take from Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark. College basketball’s all-time leading scorer left her sport in great hands this spring after reaching consecutive national championship games at Iowa and watched from afar as Hurley finished off his second consecutive run to a national title with the Huskies.
“I mean, shoot. Two really good options,” Clark said, per the Indianapolis Star. “He had his choice. Obviously, I have no idea what the conversations were, but I really admire him. I love his intensity. I think the way he coaches the game is amazing. The way he coaches his players is amazing, and [he] holds them accountable and really gets the most out of them.”
Joining the NBA coaching ranks will not be in the cards for Hurley, a possible college-life, Clark projects.
“I’ve really loved watching him over the course of the last couple of years, and I think it’s cool that he’s staying in college basketball,” Clark said. “I think he really loves it, and I think he loves being around those young men. Obviously, he makes them great, so I’ve been a big fan of his and a big fan of his program. They’ve been fun to watch.”
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Clark had previously said she grew up watching UConn star Maya Moore and modeled much of her game after the former All-American scorer.
For Hurley, his job now is to try and win a third straight NCAA Tournament with the Huskies. Meanwhile, the Lakers are moving to other options in their coaching search.
LeBron James had made it clear to Los Angeles this summer his future plans are not 100% bearing on what the franchise’s intentions are with his son, Bronny James. He is projected as a late-round pick later this month.
“He didn’t want to (force) it at the expense of what was good for Bronny,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said this spring.
Long-discussed to be a package deal of sorts, with LeBron James potentially opting out of his deal with the Lakers and teaming up with his son, Bronny James says that’s never been the plan.
“No, never. My dream has always just been to put my name out, make a name for myself, and get to the NBA, which is everyone’s end goal that’s here,” Bronny James said last month, via Michael Scotto. “I never thought about just playing with my dad, but of course he’s brought it up a couple of times. But yeah, I don’t think about it much.”
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James, a former four-star recruit, played in 24 games for USC as a true freshman this past season, averaging 4.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 19.3 minutes per contest. He shot 37.4% from the floor and 27.3% from 3-point range.
