Donovan Clingan appeared ready to attempt his third straight win, but was dissuaded by UConn head coach Dan Hurley.
Clingan was selected seventh overall by the Trail Blazers in the NBA Draft earlier this week and chatted with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles on the Players Tribune’s “Knuckleheads” podcast.
According to Clingan, he approached Hurley and offered to return to Storrs, but Hurley flatly rejected the offer.
“I walked into Coach Hurley’s office and I was like, ‘Hey Coach, I’ll be back, I’ll try one more.’ He was like, ‘You’re crazy, buddy, get out of here.’ And I guess I had to leave,” Clingan said, according to Clutch Points.
“It was probably four days after we won the title, but I was sad. I didn’t want to leave this place. I love UConn, coach Hurley, the staff, the people around me and my teammates. Every time I walk into this building, it’s home. I was there twice last week and I still feel like I’m part of the team.”
Last 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 wouldn’t leave UConn to become the head coach of the Lakers, but he believes he will eventually be a backup in the NBA.
“I knew he wasn’t going to leave,” Clingan said Tuesday at the NBA media event 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 this opportunity. It’s a great opportunity for him. I know he wants to be in the NBA at some point. He’ll never leave UConn to go to another college, but UConn is his home and I know he’ll give it his all to get three wins in a row.”
Hurley signed a six-year, $50 million contract with UConn after turning down the Lakers’ six-year, $70 million offer.
