With news that two-time defending champion UConn men’s basketball head coach Dan Hurley has declined the Los Angeles Lakers' offer to be their next head coach, the question remains: who will be the new signal caller for the purple and gold in the 2024-25 season?
Along with Hurley, there have been several notable names associated with the gig, namely former NBA sharp-shooter and LeBron James' current podcast co-host, J.J. Redick. Others that have been talked about include current Boston Celtics assistant Sam Cassell, former Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego, and former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson.
All would be fine choices — perhaps in particular Cassell, who is currently coaching in the NBA Finals. But if the Lakers don’t want to go in any of those directions, the iconic franchise will have to think outside the box. To help the Buss family, we thought we'd offer three such ideas.
A Van Gundy
The Lakers would have two to choose from: Jeff Van Gundy or Stan Van Gundy. Both coaches have gone to the NBA Finals in their careers and both have been broadcasters lately, seeing the NBA up close and personal (Stan as recently as this season with TNT and Jeff with ABC until this year). And while Jeff has been out of the spotlight over the past year, he has been a consultant with the Celtics, a team that is currently in the NBA Finals.
In total, Jeff boasts seven seasons above .500, most recently in Houston, going 52-30 in 2006-07. And while Jeff has coached guys like Patrick Ewing, Yao Ming, and Tracey McGrady in his career, Stan, who has six seasons above .500 as an NBA coach, has coached Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, and Zion Williamson. While both brothers are outspoken and opinionated, both could bring some much needed energy to the Lakers.
Mark Jackson
Former Celtics All-Star Antoine Walker suggested this one on Twitter (X). Walker, a former NBA champion with the Miami Heat, knows a thing or two about winning. But outside of social media suggestions, the idea makes sense. Mark Jackson helped build the Golden State Warriors prior to Steve Kerr taking over the team. And until this season, he was at every big game, calling the NBA for ABC, so he’s seen all the big-name players and teams in action.
Jackson last played in the league in 2003-04, which was the rookie season for LeBron James, the Lakers’ biggest star. Throughout his career, Jackson played with Hall of Famers, from Patrick Ewing to Reggie Miller. He’s coached Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, going 98-66 in his final two years in the Bay. He’s not afraid of stars. While he hasn’t coached in the NBA since 2014, he is as deserving as any to get a second shot at calling plays.
Michael Cooper
You wanted an outside-the-box candidate? Well, here it is! Michael Cooper was an assistant with the Lakers in the 1990s and, for a short time, he was an interim head coach in Denver with the Nuggets. But the new Hall of Famer made his coaching bones in the WNBA while in Los Angeles, winning two league championships and a Coach of the Year award while guiding the career of Lisa Leslie. A star with the Showtime Lakers, Cooper has basketball leadership in his blood.
If the Lakers don’t want to go for Cooper, they could go with another Showtime veteran, Byron Scott. Or maybe another from the 2000s glory days like Derek Fisher or Brian Shaw. But the biggest outside-the-box option would be the big-game player, himself: Robert Horry. Has anyone had better luck bringing wins to a team than Big Shot Rob? With seven NBA championship rings, he has more 'chips than James and Anthony Davis combined. Perhaps that luck would translate to the sidelines!
