UConn Insider Drops Major Update Around Rumors Involving Dan Hurley & Ex-Knicks HC Tom Thibodeau

When a video of Dan Hurley vibing at a Billy Joel concert in Madison Square Garden went viral last June, right as rumors swirled about him joining the Lakers, it felt more like a reassurance to the UConn fans. In the middle of all the noise, there was their coach, not in L.A., but right at home in the Northeast, enjoying a night out. But things have changed this year. There is no longer the motivation of winning a three-peat, and the coveted job of the New York Knicks is now available after Tom Thibodeau was fired. Is it time for Coach Hurley to turn the page and chase a new chapter? Well, a UConn insider was quick to shut down those rumors!

Last year, the Lakers were in urgent need of a new head coach, and Dan Hurley seemed like the ideal choice. A championship-hungry NBA franchise going after the mastermind behind back-to-back NCAA titles? It had all the makings of a perfect pairing! But just as the stars seemed to align, Hurley shocked everyone by rejecting a massive 6-year, $70 million offer! It made sense as Hurley had signaled his intentions of winning the three-peat with UConn, and the Lakers decided to get JJ Reddick instead.

Well, things aren’t the same anymore. With Tom Thibodeau out, Dan Hurley has emerged as one of the top names linked to the vacant Knicks job. But there’s nothing to worry, UConn fans! According to UConn insider Dom Amore, fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Dan Hurley isn’t going anywhere. The 52-year-old head coach has no plans to leave Storrs, putting an end to any NBA speculation!

According to the same report, Dan Hurley would be an ideal hire for an NBA team ready to tear things down and rebuild from the ground up. But that’s not where the New York Knicks are. They just had their best season in 25 years and are firmly in win-now mode. That’s exactly why even that success wasn’t enough to save Tom Thibodeau’s job. And while Hurley is undoubtedly a phenomenal coach with the potential to thrive in the NBA, he just doesn’t fit what the Knicks need at this moment.

So, who can the Knicks realistically target to help achieve that target? Let’s dive into some names that could be on New York’s radar!

If not Dan Hurley, then who for the Knicks?

Topping the list of potential candidates has to be Jay Wright, the mastermind behind Villanova’s championship runs in 2016 and 2018. So much has been said about the “Nova Knicks.” The core of Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart have already reunited in New York. So, bringing in the coach who once led them to college glory feels like a storybook move. But there’s one major hurdle! Wright will need to come out of his retirement. Will he do that? Guess, we will find out soon!

While Jay Wright may be the fairytale pick but the most realistic and arguably the smartest option would be Michael Malone. Just two seasons ago, he guided the Nuggets to a championship with a system built around a dynamic guard-center duo. Quite similar to what the Knicks have right now, isn’t it? He’s everything Thibodeau was, just with a ring and a bit more offensive flair. But if the Knicks hesitate, they risk losing him to another contender.

The Knicks’ search isn’t just about names, it’s about finding someone who can take a team with Jalen Brunson in his prime and push them over the hump. Other coaches like Jeff Van Gundy, who took the Knicks to the Finals in ’99, or Johnnie Bryant, a rising star who worked with Brunson in Utah, are also in the mix. Fans are buzzing about it all, with some dreaming of Wright’s Villanova magic and others begging for Malone’s proven track record, though plenty still think Thibs got a raw deal after turning the Knicks around.

It’ll be fascinating to see which direction the Knicks go this offseason. With Dan Hurley officially out of the picture, it might seem like a setback, but it could actually be a blessing in disguise. There are still several high-caliber candidates available, and some might even be better suited to lead this team to a title. Stay tuned to find out who the Knicks hire!