Tyronn Lue has been both a player and head coach in the NBA. After the Doc Rivers and the Clippers parted ways, a coaching search began. Lue, who was an assistant under Rivers, has been promoted within the Los Angeles Clippers organization to become a head coach. He started with the Clippers as an associate head coach in 2018.
Los Angeles Clippers Next Head Coach: Tyronn Lue
Tyronn Lue will officially be the next head coach of the Clippers. This is according to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski:
Ty Lue is finalizing a five-year deal to become the next coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 15, 2020
Lue has won three NBA championships in his NBA career. Two of them came as a player with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000 and 2001. Then he won the NBA championship as a head coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. He also made the NBA All-Star game as a head coach of the Cavaliers in 2016.
LeBron James was coached by Lue in the Cavaliers organization. This is what James said about Tyronn Lue according to Dan Karpuc of GiveMeSport:
“I just think it’s just his level of calmness no matter what’s going on,” James said. “He always talks about, at the end of the day, he’s already won in life so whatever else happens after this is extra credit. And I feel the same way. That’s why I’m able to relate to him so much.”
The Clippers will be hoping for the same with Lue. With players like Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers will be aiming to win the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy next year.
Chauncey Billups Will Be Lead Assistant Coach
In addition, Chauncey Billups will be the lead assistant of the Clippers. This is according to Shams Charania is an NBA Insider/Writer/Analyst for The Athletic and Stadium.
Sources: The Los Angeles Clippers are hiring Ty Lue to be their next head coach — with Chauncey Billups as a lead assistant.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 15, 2020
Billups was a five-time NBA All-Star. Also, with the Detroit Pistons, he won the NBA championship and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award in 2004. This is what former Boston Celtics player Antoine Walker said about Billups as a player according to Heavy:
“I think the thing that was great about Chauncey was that size; he was a big point guard, he could post up smaller guards, he could shoot the three – he became a better three-point shooter as his career went on,” Walker said.
He will be a valuable addition and provide Lue with much-needed help. This, however, will be his first coaching position in the NBA. It will be interesting how he performs in his first-ever coaching role in the NBA.
Overview of the Tyronn Lue Signing
The Clippers are in a tough position. According to Tommy Beer of Forbes, both Leonard and George could leave at the conclusion of the 2020-21 NBA season.
They will be hoping Lue’s ability to stay calm and win three NBA championships will take the Clippers to their first-ever Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. This will also be Lue’s first head coaching position since 2018 when he was head coach of the Cavaliers.
Billups is more interesting as he never had a coaching role within the Clippers organization. However, he was a point guard in his career as a player. Point guards are in demand in the NBA’s current climate. Examples can be seen with former NBA point guards like Steve Nash and Doc Rivers who are now current head coaches in the NBA.
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