Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue reflected on his days as an assistant coach for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavs. James led the Cavs to their first championship in 2016 before leaving to join the Lakers. While many look back on LeBron’s days with the Miami Heat, which led to two NBA titles, as his most dominant era of basketball, Ty disagrees.
Lue discussed how joining the Cavs’ bench gave him a front-row view of the best era of James’ career in an interview with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay.
“I don’t know,” Lue replied. “He was super efficient in Miami, but I didn’t get a chance to watch him like I wanted to because of course you can’t see every game. But what that stretch he had in Cleveland, that was his best stretch. The 16-17 season, we went back to the Finals, we played KD for the first time, that season right there was one of the best he’s ever had. That 15-18 that might have been the best basketball he’s ever played.”
How Tyronn Lue almost didn’t join the Cavs’ coaching staff
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Lue declined the Cavs assistant coaching job three times. He wanted to stay loyal to head coach Doc Rivers. But the offers increased. While some fans hope LeBron James will end his career with the Cavs as a storybook ending to his Hall of Fame career, Lue reflected on how he earned the position in the first place when he received the call to join head coach David Blatt’s coaching staff.
“They want you to be the associate head coach, and I was like, nah, I’m cool. I’m gonna stay here with Doc,” Lue said. “Because I figured if I’m with Doc, who’s the best coach in the league, I’m gonna get a job next year. It’s coming. I’m not gonna leave Doc. I’m gonna be loyal to Doc.”
However, when the offer exceeded $2 million, Lue decided to call Rivers.
“So I called Doc and Doc was like you know what Ty? It’s gonna be hard for us to match that but I think you’re ready to leave my umbrella and spread your wings. Do your own thing. I think it’ll be good for you,” Lue added. “I was like you sure? And he was like I think it’ll be really good for you, and that’s kind of how it happened. How I ended up going to Cleveland.”
Lue led the Cavs from a 3-1 deficit to win Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.
