Donovan Clingan was apparently ready to try for a three-peat, but was talked out of it by UConn head coach Dan Hurley.
Clingan was selected seventh overall in the NBA Draft by the Trail Blazers earlier this week, and joined Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles on Players Tribune’s “Knuckleheads” podcast for a conversation.
According to Clingan, he approached Hurley and offered to return to Storrs, but Hurley summarily rejected the offer.
“I went into Coach Hurley’s office and I was like, ‘Yo coach I’ll come back, I’ll go for another one.’ He’s like ‘You’re out of your mind, bro, get the hell out of here.’ And I guess I had to go,” Clingan said, as covered by Clutch Points.
“It was probably like four days after we had won the title, but you know I was sad. I didn’t want to leave that place. I love UConn, coach Hurley, the staff, the people around me, and my teammates. Every time I walk in that building, it’s home. I went back twice last week and I still feel like I’m part of the team.”
This past season, Clingan averaged 13 points and 7.4 rebounds per game as the Huskies won their second consecutive national championship.
Earlier this week, Clingan revealed that he “knew” Hurley wasn’t going to leave UConn for the Lakers’ head coaching job, but thinks he will eventually roam the sidelines in the NBA.
“I knew he wasn’t going to leave,” Clingan said Tuesday at the NBA’s media availability in Midtown. “I knew he was going to stay, I knew how much he loved UConn. I knew how much UConn meant to him.
“Obviously, he had to look at the opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for him. I know he’ll eventually want to go to the NBA. He’ll never leave UConn to go to another college, but UConn’s home for him and I know he’s going to give everything he’s got to go for three in a row.”
Hurley inked in a six-year, $50 million deal at UConn after rejecting the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer.
