The Los Angeles Lakers are no strangers to legendary college basketball coaches. The famous organization tried to hire Mike Krzyzewski, is now consulting him in his current coaching search, and recently offered a six-year contract worth $70 million to Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley.
The Lakers are likely to keep their options open as they search for a long-term answer to the Phil Jackson conundrum, but perhaps a return to the college ranks could be in order.
Hurley was a compelling target to consider for the Lakers. The two-time defending national champion head coach thrives on player development and has the thorough approach to game planning that Los Angeles has. interested in.
If the goal is to find a player development specialist, then college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman has a suggestion: hire the coach who most recently won a National Championship before Hurley.
If I’m Rob Pelinka and I’m looking for another college coach, it would be Bill Self.
I’m not sure he will, but I think he brings a combination of high-level coaching and adaptable personality that could succeed in the NBA. https://t.co/F8XQxjbRU2
—Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 11, 2024
In the world of college basketball coaches, few have as much influence as Bill Self.
Self, 61, has been the head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks since 2003. During that time, he helped the program win two national championships, eight Big 12 conference tournaments and a notable 16 regular-season championships. big.
Self also helped the Illinois Fighting Illini win the Big Ten twice, as well as the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes win the WAC in consecutive seasons.
Already a member of the basketball Hall of Fame, Self is among the greatest coaches in college basketball history. However, he has yet to make the transition to the NBA and it is unknown if he would be willing to do so.
However, Self has coached an impressive list of eventual NBA players, including Christian Braun, Joel Embiid, Marcus Morris, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andrew Wiggins.
By hiring Self, the Lakers would bring in a person who has a history of coaching under extraordinary pressure. The annual expectation in Lawrence, Kansas, is the delivery of a Big 12 title and a deep run in the NCAA tournament, and anything less is considered a failure.
With a career winning percentage of .808 at Kansas and .768 overall, it’s safe to say Self has delivered on his promise to help the Jayhawks compete consistently.
It may also make him ideal for the pressures of coaching the Lakers in their quest for an 18th championship.