Chris Paul Praises UConn’s Dan Hurley After Report of Lakers ‘Targeting’ Him

Getty Dan Hurley celebrates the Huskies sixth title since 1999.

Chris Paul of the Golden State Warriors praised UConn coach Dan Hurley in light of a June 6 report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Los Angeles Lakers “are targeting” Hurley in their search for their next coach.

“I got so much respect for him,” Paul told Pat McAfee on the June 6 episode of “The Pat McAfee Show.” “Not just how he coaches, but how his players respond to him.”

Paul — who according to Substack’s Marc Stein could go to the Lakers if the Warriors release him later in June — also said Wojnarowski’s report was news to him as well and appeared to question the veracity of it.

“I woke up just like y’all, you know, to that news and whatnot,” Paul said. “Half of this stuff, you don’t know if it’s true.”

Until Wojnarowski’s report, TV analyst JJ Redick was considered the favorite to land the job, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. However, Hurley did tell his UConn players that he’d been in discussions with the Lakers, according to Fox Sports’ John Fanta.

“I know JJ. He was my teammate,” Paul replied to McAfee’s assertion that Charania “told us yesterday: JJ.” “I’m just saying, you ain’t necessarily gotta believe everything you hear. … You just never know.”

Chris Paul to the Lakers Rumors

After playing the 2023-24 season with the Golden State Warriors, Paul has one year remaining on the 4-year, $120 million contract he originally signed with the Phoenix Suns. In order for him to get to the Lakers, the Warriors would have to waive him or trade him. The Warriors have until June 28 to make a decision before his $30 million 2024-25 salary becomes guaranteed.

Paul signing with the Lakers would have some historical significance, as one of the most talked about non-trades in history centered around him. Back in 2011, the trade had Paul to the Lakers, Pau Gasol to the Rockets and Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Lamar Odom, Goran Dragic and a 2012 first-round pick to the Hornets. That trade was famously vetoed by then NBA Commissioner David Stern.

The rumors didn’t just die off, as four years ago Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report wrote that an Eastern Conference executive said, “Chris Paul would love to come back to LA. I know it would be a dream come true for Chris. I know LeBron loves and trusts him and he would be a good fit.”

This time around, there wouldn’t be a competitive imbalance caused by Paul’s arrival in Los Angeles. He’s coming off of a solid but unremarkable campaign as the backup point guard for the Warriors, averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 26.4 minutes per game.

Dan Hurley as Lakers Coach

While the basketball world awaited a report that the Lakers had hired Redick to coach the team, Wojnarowski threw a wrench in things by announcing that Hurley was the front-runner.

The 51-year-old Hurley has been a head coach for 14 seasons, the last six with the UConn Huskies. He previously coached at Wagner (2010-2012) and Rhode Island (2012-2018), posting a respectable 151-105 record before landing the UConn job. After two mediocre seasons at UConn, the Huskies moved from the AAC to the Big East. UConn has made the NCAA Tournament every year since, winning back-to-back Division I championships in 2023 and 2024.

Endorsements have been flooding in for Hurley, most notably from Huskies women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, who said “‘Hey, I think you could win a lot of championships with the Lakers, more so than a guy who’s never coached.’ He just looked at me and nodded and we had a good laugh and then this morning I wake up and voila. So, I don’t know what’s going on.”

LeBron himself had gushed about Hurley months previous, in reaction to a conversation between Hurley and Redick, saying “He’s so DAMN GOOD!!! Along with his staff. Super creative with their O! Love it.”

Wojnarowski wrote that the Lakers are “preparing a massive, long-term contract” for Hurley.