Danny Hurley already has LeBron James’ blessing.
James praised the Lakers’ top choice for their head coach vacancy in an April tweet ironically featuring the previously dubbed frontrunner J.J. Redick talking shop with UConn’s coach.
“He’s so DAMN GOOD!!! Along with his staff,” James tweeted April 19. “Super creative with their O! Love it.”
James’ fingerprints are all over the Lakers’ search, with Hurley having the future Hall of Famer’s stamp of approval and Redick already co-hosting the “Mind the Game” podcast with him.
Redick, a 15-year NBA veteran, had previously been reported by The Athletic as the leading candidate.
It now seems Redick is the fall-back option, should Hurley decide to stay in Storrs and pursue a three-peat rather than head to the NBA and coach the storied franchise.
Having James’ blessing is seemingly a good sign for Hurley since the four-time NBA MVP holds a $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season.
The Lakers’ title chances drastically swing if James leaves town.
James, as his tweet indicated, reportedly is a big fan of Hurley’s offense.
Hurley, once known for a grind-it-out offensive approach, changed tactics over the last two years alongside assistant Luke Murray, employing European schemes.
UConn finished the 2023-24 season as the No. 1 adjusted offense, according to KenPom.
“LeBron James has been impressed with Hurley’s sophisticated offensive actions,” ESPN reported.
Another selling point for James is that Hurley could have the chance to develop his son, Bronny, who entered the draft and has been rumored as the target of the Lakers with the No. 55 pick.
With UConn slated to have two lottery picks this year, Hurley will have coached four players into first-round selections over the last three drafts.
James actually has a history involving members of the UConn program.
James tweeted glowingly about former Huskies guard Shabazz Napier on the day of UConn’s national title triumph over Kentucky in 2014.
“No way u take another PG in the lottery before Napier,” he tweeted.
The Heat, then James’ employer, traded for Napier on the night of the draft, only for James to leave South Beach to return to Cleveland that summer.
James then posted again about Napier while with Cleveland.
“My favorite player in the draft! #Napier,” James tweeted that summer about the point guard who went on to have a middling career as mostly a backup for six franchises over six seasons.