Tyronn Lue facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tyronn Lue

Lue as head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2022
Los Angeles Clippers
Head coach
Personal information
Born	(1977-05-03) May 3, 1977 (age 48) Mexico, Missouri, U.S.
High school	Raytown (Raytown, Missouri)
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	Nebraska (1995–1998)
NBA Draft	1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23rd overall
Selected by the Denver Nuggets
Pro career	1998–2009
Coaching career	2009–present
League	NBA
Career history
As player:
1998–2001	Los Angeles Lakers
2001–2003	Washington Wizards
2003–2004	Orlando Magic
2004	Houston Rockets
2004–2008	Atlanta Hawks
2008	Dallas Mavericks
2008–2009	Milwaukee Bucks
2009	Orlando Magic
As coach:
2011–2013	Boston Celtics (assistant)
2013–2014	Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
2014–2016	Cleveland Cavaliers (associate HC)
2016–2018	Cleveland Cavaliers
2019–2020	Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
2020–present	Los Angeles Clippers
Career highlights and awards
As player: 2× NBA champion (2000, 2001) First-team All-Big 12 (1998) Second-team All-Big 12 (1997) No. 10 retired by Nebraska Cornhuskers As coach: NBA champion (2016) NBA All-Star Game head coach (2016)
Career NBA statistics
Points	4,710 (8.5 ppg)
Rebounds	943 (1.7 rpg)
Assists	1,727 (3.1 apg)
Medals Assistant coach for  United States Men's national basketball team Olympic Games Gold 2024 Paris Team

Tyronn Lue (born May 3, 1977) is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before this, he coached the Cleveland Cavaliers and helped them win their first-ever NBA championship.

Tyronn Lue played as a point guard in college for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was chosen by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 1998 NBA draft. Soon after, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. With the Lakers, Lue won two NBA championships in his first three seasons.

After his playing career ended in 2009, Lue started coaching. He became an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics and then the Los Angeles Clippers. In 2014, he joined the Cavaliers as an associate head coach. He became the head coach during the 2015–16 season. That same season, Lue led the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship. This made him one of the few new coaches in the NBA to win a title so quickly. He coached the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals again in 2017 and 2018, but they lost to the Golden State Warriors both times. Lue was later fired by Cleveland in October 2018. He then returned to the Clippers as head coach and led them to their first-ever Conference Finals.

Early Life and College Basketball

Tyronn Lue grew up in Raytown, Missouri, and went to Raytown Senior High School. After high school, he attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. There, he played basketball for the Cornhuskers and studied sociology.

Lue was an important player on the team that won the 1996 National Invitation Tournament in 1996. He finished his college career as one of Nebraska's top players. He was third in assists, fourth in three-pointers, and fifth in steals. He also ranked seventh in total points scored. Lue decided to enter the NBA draft after his junior year of college.

Playing Career in the NBA

Los Angeles Lakers (1998–2001)

Tyronn Lue entered the 1998 NBA draft early. He was picked 23rd overall by the Denver Nuggets. However, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night. His first three years with the Lakers were a bit tough, with limited playing time and some injuries.

Lue really shined in the 2001 playoffs. He was known for his speed, which made him perfect for guarding star player Allen Iverson during the Finals. In one famous moment, Iverson dribbled past Lue and made a shot, then stepped over him. Even though the 76ers won that first game, the Lakers won the next four games and the NBA championship. Lue played in every game of those NBA Finals.

Washington Wizards (2001–2003)

After leaving the Lakers in 2001, Lue signed with the Washington Wizards. He got a lot more playing time here and improved as a point guard.

Orlando Magic (2003–2004)

Lue played for the Orlando Magic during the 2003–04 season. He played many minutes alongside Tracy McGrady. However, the team had a very tough season, finishing with the worst record in the NBA.

Houston Rockets (2004) and Atlanta Hawks (2004–2008)

After the Magic season, Lue was traded to the Houston Rockets. He didn't play as much there because the Rockets had many point guards. Mid-season, he was traded again to the Atlanta Hawks. Lue became a key player for the Hawks. However, his team again had the worst record in the NBA that season. He re-signed with the Hawks in 2005 and played there until 2008.

Later Playing Years (2008–2009)

In 2008, Lue was traded to the Sacramento Kings but was waived soon after. He then signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Later that year, he joined the Milwaukee Bucks.

In 2009, Lue was traded back to the Orlando Magic. This was his final year as an NBA player. The Magic, led by Dwight Howard, made it to the 2009 Finals. However, they lost to Lue's former team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coaching Career

Boston Celtics (2011–2013)

After retiring as a player, Tyronn Lue started his coaching career. In 2009, the Boston Celtics hired him as their director of basketball development. He then became an assistant coach for the Celtics in 2011.

Los Angeles Clippers (2013–2014)

In 2013, Lue joined the Los Angeles Clippers' coaching staff as an assistant.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2014–2018)

In 2014, Lue became the associate head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was the highest-paid assistant coach in the NBA at the time.

On January 22, 2016, Lue was named the head coach of the Cavaliers. This happened after the previous coach was fired mid-season. Lue signed a three-year contract. That spring, he led the Cavaliers to an NBA championship. In the 2016 playoffs, the Cavaliers won their first 10 games, making Lue the first coach in NBA history to do so. He also became one of the few coaches to reach the NBA Finals after taking over a team mid-season. On June 19, 2016, the Cavaliers won their first NBA championship. Lue became only the second rookie head coach in two years to win the title. He was also the third coach to win a championship after starting mid-season, and the 14th person to win an NBA championship as both a player and a head coach.

In the 2016–17 NBA season, the Cavaliers finished with a 51–31 record. In the playoffs, they went 12–1 before losing to the Golden State Warriors in the 2017 NBA Finals.

In March 2018, Lue took a break from coaching due to chest pain. He returned before the regular season ended and helped the Cavaliers reach the 2018 NBA Finals again. They lost to the Warriors in four games.

Lue's coaching style in Cleveland focused on being flexible and relying on LeBron James's strong play. He would change players around James to match up against different opponents. In 2016, his team even used the Warriors' own strategies to beat them. While his teams sometimes looked unprepared in the regular season, Lue was praised in the playoffs for thinking ahead and creating advantages. At the 2016 ESPY Awards, Lue was named Best Coach/Manager, and the Cavaliers were named Best Team.

On October 28, 2018, the Cleveland Cavaliers fired Lue after the team started the season with 0 wins and 6 losses.

Return to the Clippers (2019–present)

After leaving Cleveland, Lue worked informally with Doc Rivers, who was then the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. Before the 2019–20 season, Lue officially became the lead assistant coach for the Clippers.

On October 20, 2020, Lue was promoted to head coach of the Clippers. In his first season as head coach, Lue led the Clippers to the Western Conference Finals. This was the first time in the team's history they reached the conference finals. They lost to the Phoenix Suns in six games.

On May 29, 2024, Lue signed a new five-year contract to continue as the head coach of the Clippers.

Career Statistics

Regular Season Games

Playoff Games

Head Coaching Record

Awards and Honors

Tyronn Lue has received many awards and honors throughout his career:

NBA Achievements:

• He is a three-time NBA champion:
  • Twice as a player (in 2000 and 2001)
  • Once as a head coach (in 2016)
• He was the All-Star Game head coach in 2016.

USA Basketball:

• He won a Gold Medal at the Olympics as an assistant coach for the 2024 United States men's Olympic basketball team.

College Achievements (NCAA):

• He was named First-team All-Big 12 in 1998.
• His jersey number 10 was retired by the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Media Recognition:

• He won the ESPY Award for Best Coach/Manager in 2016.
• The Cavaliers, with Lue as coach, won the ESPY Award for Best Team in 2016.

Local Honors:

• A street in his hometown of Mexico, Missouri, was named "Tyronn Lue Boulevard" in his honor.

Personal Life

Tyronn Lue is related to Boston Celtics small forward Jayson Tatum. Tatum is Lue's first cousin once removed. Tatum grew up in St. Louis, which is close to Lue's hometown. They often saw each other at family gatherings and barbecues.

See also

In Spanish: Tyronn Lue para niños