A new era of Miami Hurricanes men's basketball is officially underway.
The Hurricanes formally announced on Thursday that it has hired Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas to be their next head coach, marking the first major coaching hire of coaching carousel season in men's college basketball.
REQUIRED READING: Miami men's basketball hires Duke associate coach Jai Lucas as next head coach
In the hours that followed the news of Lucas being picked to be Jim Larrañaga's successor, several NBA players have offered congratulations to the Hurricanes' newest head coach — a list that includes four-time NBA champion and former Miami Heat guard LeBron James.
"Coach Jai Lucas, I just want to say congratulations to you, man, on your head coaching job down there at the University of Miami," James said. "... They are going to welcome you with open arms. It's all nothing but love down there. All the family and I know you are going to have a great time."
He added: "Go ahead and do big things. Truly an unbelievable accomplishment and I wish you nothing but the best of luck. You got my support."
Others who sent in videos include NBA Hall of Famer and former Heat guard Dwyane Wade, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain, the latter of whom played for Lucas at Duke last year.
"Jai Lucas, my guy. I'm sad to see you go but there is nobody else that deserves it more than you man. Congratulations and I wish you nothing but the best," McCain said.
Former Duke and Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II also offered his congratulations to his former college assistant coach. Lively II was part of the first roster Lucas helped coach at Duke in 2022, when Lively II ranked eighth in the country in blocked shots, with 82.
"What's up, Little J. Congratulations on getting the head coaching job at Miami. Always best love and I know you got the best time ahead of you," Dereck Lively II said.
Lucas arrives at Miami as the youngest head coach at the Power Four level in the sport, at 36 years old. He also is one of the sport's top recruiters and will now look to rely on his reputation on the recruiting trail — which includes landing Cooper Flagg and Miami natives Cameron and Cayden Boozer — at Miami. There, he will be tasked with returning the Hurricanes program to national relevance.
He spent the last two seasons as Jon Scheyer's associate head coach at Duke, while serving as an assistant in his first year in 2022. He also has had stints at his alma mater Texas and Kentucky in his 12-year coaching career.
Lucas will be introduced as Miami's newest head coach on Monday per a news release.