NBA: Juwan Howard declines Lakers’ coaching overture

FILE PHOTO: Mar 23, 2022; San Antonio, TX, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Juwan Howard during team practice before the NCAA Tournament South Regional at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan Wolverines coach Juwan Howard recently declined an overture by the Los Angeles Lakers for the NBA team’s head-coaching position, ESPN reported Sunday.

Howard will remain at his alma mater, where he will coach his two sons — Jace and Jett — next season, ESPN reported, citing sources. Jace will be a junior and Jett a freshman at Michigan.

The Lakers have been searching for a head coach since Frank Vogel was fired in April after the team finished 33-49 and missed the playoffs.

ESPN said the Lakers never made a formal offer to Howard but that he would have become a serious candidate for the job if he had shown an interest.

Howard interviewed for the Lakers’ head-coaching position when he was a Miami Heat assistant coach in 2019 before he accepted the top job at Michigan.

Howard guided the Wolverines to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament last season. He is 61-32 in three seasons at Michigan, including 19-15 this past season. The team also made the NCAA Tournament the previous season, reaching the Elite Eight and finishing 23-5.

ESPN reported that finalists for the Lakers’ coaching job include Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham, Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts. The outlet said the Lakers likely will conduct in-person interviews in the near future.

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