While LeBron James may be disappointed that Dan Hurley wasn’t completely wooed by the Los Angeles Lakers, he saw a silver lining when the two-time NCAA champion decided to stay at UConn. With the Huskies, Hurley was still in position to coach at least one member of the James Gang.
In an interview with Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, Hurley breaks down his reason for turning down the Lakers’ offer. The 51-year-old has gone on a bit of a media run towards the end of this week. He told The Herd’s Colin Cowherd that James texted him to and through the process. He told the Le Batard Show’s Dan Le Batard that there was an offer L.A. could’ve made to get him to leave UConn. With Norlander, he made note of the ramifications of his decision extending to James’s sons.
“That was one of the pluses,” Hurley begins, speaking of the chance to coach James Sr. first. “It was one of the draws, was the chance, in your lifetime, to have coached one of the greatest players of all time.”
Dan Hurley Teases Bryce James Offer After LeBron’s Lakers Texts
Though perhaps starstruck by the prospect of coaching him, Hurley also believed it would have been to James’s benefit.
“I have a lot of confidence that my work ethic and my expertise and my ability to connect with him would have made for a great partnership there,” Hurley says assuredly. Again noting that he and James had “texted some,” he adds: “I’m smart enough to have had some communication there, because you would want to, obviously, begin that relationship.”
Hurley then all but inexplicably notes that James has “sons that are really good at basketball, if I was going to stay in college.”
This is a curious comment from the New Jersey native. Of James’s two sons, only one of them is still eligible to play college basketball: Bryce Maximus James.
Development Is Paramount
Bryce Maximus is a three-star shooting guard in the Class of 2025. Per ESPN, he already holds offers from Ohio State —for obvious reasons —and Duquesne. Duquesne, seen as one of the favorites to land brother Bronny James had he withdrawn from the draft, has hired Dru Joyce III. A high school teammate of their father at St. Vincent-St. Mary, Joyce would likely prioritize the development of James Sr.’s sons.
For that reason alone, it makes sense for he and Hurley to plant the seeds for a relationship. Should Bryce Maximus receive an offer from the Huskies, James could rest easy knowing that he’s in Hurley’s hands. Just consider that Donovan Clingan, ranked 56th on the ESPN 100, is in contention to be a top-three pick. Teammate Stephon Castle, ranked 12th in the ESPN 100, is projected to be a top-10 pick. With those two prospects, Hurley’s ability to sharpen iron and keep players on task is well-represented.
Indeed, considering Castle’s skillset, Hurley would’ve likely been able to get a better performance from James Jr. than Andy Enfield. His younger brother has better length and is more aggressive though, so it would be interesting to see how he fared at UConn. Already 6-foot-6 and 180 pounds, the 18-year-old’s body and skills continue to develop. Learning from a coach with Hurley’s acumen would only increase his chances of having success in the NBA.
The Golden Nugget
“…At the end of the day, I get to coach 18- and 19-year-old kids,” Hurley says. “And you can make an impact. I’ll go sit at the draft in 10 days with people whose lives you helped change. That, to me, matters a lot.
Once the money and the ego and all that stuff is out, I love coaching. I love to run a program. That’s what’s important to me.”
