Former UConn Huskies forward Alex Karaban has never been shy about speaking highly of his relationship with his college hoops coach, Dan Hurley. After all, the player-coach duo won two national championships in 2023 and 2024, and the 2026 NCAA title game, concluding Karaban’s college tenure. Through interviews and videos, Karaban and Hurley’s relationship is portrayed as extending beyond the court.
This is why it is no surprise that Hurley’s influence on Karaban has even reached the latter being drafted into the NBA. Recently, it was announced that Karaban will wear the No. 33 for the Sacramento Kings for his rookie year. When asked by the media about the number, Karaban shared that it came from coach Hurley and how he would call him Larry Bird throughout their time together.
“ Yeah, Coach Hurley would call me Larry Bird a lot, so he gave me…I had to go with, I had to go with 33 and a couple of my options were taken, so I went with 33. As a Boston kid, too, you’re surrounded by Larry Bird memories and just everything that’s about him, so I just went with that,” Karaban shared. (0:00)
Similar to Boston Celtics legend and four-time NBA champion Larry Bird, Karaban is best known for being a sharpshooter, especially from three-point range. Perhaps Hurley kept calling Karaban Larry Bird to further motivate him to improve his game and make it to the league. Through all that, Karaban was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the 29th overall pick before getting traded to the Kings.
Alex Karaban previously explained how coach Dan Hurley’s program prepared him for the NBA
Alex Karaban had Dan Hurley as his mentor throughout his college basketball tenure. With him getting drafted into the NBA, Karaban attributes the accomplishment to what he has learned under Hurley’s tutelage.
At a press conference during the 2026 NBA Draft Combine in mid-May, Karaban detailed how coach Hurley’s program prepared him for the league, both mentally and physically.
“He’s brutally honest with you about what you need to improve on, not just as a player, but as a person as well, your personality traits. It really just gets you ready for the NBA. NBA’s a whole different league,” Karaban said. (0:06)
Karaban went on to appreciate the plethora of talent in the NBA. He realizes that he has to be ready and make an impact right from his debut. He shared that playing under coach Hurley, he is prepared in the best way.
Read More:
“Looked Like Angel Reese”: Fans React As Dan Hurley Posts Emotional Video of Alex Karaban
UConn Veteran Alex Karaban Makes Honest Comment on Dan Hurley’s ‘Psychopath’ Side
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