When Geno Auriemma revealed NBA job offer that came at the wrong time in his career: “If it came earlier, I would’ve done it”

Geno Auriemma's elite talent as a basketball coach was never in doubt, especially throughout his career at UConn. When it came to testing the waters of the NBA, there was a time when the Huskies coach considered the idea.

He appeared on an episode of the Dan Patrick Show that was uploaded to YouTube in June 2024. Patrick asked him about the interest he received from the NBA and Auriemma explained why he didn't go for it.

"I talked to a couple people about being an assistant where I thought this game was going, where it's going and I thought, wow, I wish I was younger, because it was at an age where it's like, Do I really have it in me to be that and be fair to that for 100 and some games, if you're lucky enough during the season?" (Auriemma said 4:30 onwards).

"Coaching is coaching. I get it, but the distance and the gap, I've thought, what if I could be an assistant here for a couple years, three, four years. I think I could do this job, but it just came at the wrong time in my career, but if it came earlier, I would have done it."

Geno Auriemma still coaching at high level for UConn despite passing up NBA offer

It would have been intriguing to see Geno Auriemma in the NBA as an assistant or a head coach. However, he is content in maintaining his status as one of the best in women's college basketball at UConn.

This season, under Auriemma's 40th year with the program, the No. 6 Huskies boast a 15-2 record. Their defense is holding opponents to 51.7 points on 35.6% shooting from the field and 31.7% from beyond the arc, blowing them out by a margin of 27.2 points per game.

Paige Bueckers leads the way with 19.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and four assists per contest. Sarah Strong comes next with 17.2 points and 7.9 rebounds, while Azzi Fudd puts up 10.7 points on 38.9% shooting from downtown.

After Wednesday's matchup with St. John's, Geno Auriemma and the No. 6 Huskies will return home to host the Seton Hall Pirates at the Harry Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. ET.