Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka‘s job got even tougher now after they failed to reach an agreement with Dan Hurley. The vacant LA Lakers Head Coach position had JJ Redick as the front-runner for the longest time. Until last week, when reports emerged that the Lakers were looking for the UConn Huskies coach to take over. But it’s back to the drawing board for Buss and Pelinka as the assistant coach of the Huskies has seemingly confirmed that Hurley was staying.

Luke Murray who also could have been part of the Lakers unit, if Hurley had said yes to the job. But he seems happy going for the 3rd straight NCAA crown for UConn. On his X, he tweeted a gif of Dan Hurley celebrating with his hands up in the air. Even though it is good news for some, the former legend has a controversial take on the decision. Eddie Johnson wrote on X to express his displeasure.

“He did not want that pressure. Good for him, his choice. But don’t try and convince me that winning 3 titles in watered down college basketball is better than winning 1 in LA.”

Previously, Dan Hurley spoke about how Lakers VP and GM Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss made a “compelling case” and presented a “compelling vision” for the head coach position. He had traveled on Thursday to attend the meeting on Friday with the executives. But somewhere his heart was set to return to UConn to complete a hat-trick of wins.

The offer from the Lakers was worth $ 70 million, which would have made him one of the NBA’s six highest-paid coaches. However, he would now try for the Huskies to become the second program to win three straight men’s national titles. So now what’s next for the 51-year-old?

Rejecting the Lakers a wise move by Dan Hurley?

After historically dominant back-to-back national title seasons, Hurley has emerged as the most coveted coach in the sport after constructing a juggernaut that lapped college basketball – culminating in the NCAA’s first repeat champion in 17 years and a tournament performance that produced the biggest point differential in tournament history – 140 points. But 20 years ago, another NCAA coach had rejected Lakers just like Dan Hurley.

The Lakers appeared destined to make another championship-winning college coach their lead tactician — then-Duke Mike Krzyzewski was offered the role after Phil Jackson’s departure. Much like Hurley, he declined, citing his desire to stay in his adopted hometown Durham. “Your heart has to be in whatever you lead,” Krzyzewski said to ESPN in July 2004. “It became apparent that this decision was somewhat easier to make because you have to follow your heart and lead with it, and Duke has always taken up my whole heart.”

It was Dan Hurley’s dream to coach an NBA team. But with the culture he has built around the UConn Huskies, it would be difficult to bet against his side for winning the championship again.

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Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, had to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.