Tyronn Lue

From Nebraska to NBA champion as player and coach.

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Tyronn Jamar Lue (born May 3, 1977) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has won NBA titles as a player and a head coach.

Quick Facts

League: NBA
Team: Los Angeles Clippers
Position: Head coach
Born: 3 May 1977
Birthplace: Mexico, Missouri, U.S.
High school: Raytown (Raytown, Missouri)
College: Nebraska (1995–1998)
Draft round: 1

Lore & Background

A former point guard, Lue played college basketball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers before being selected by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 1998 NBA draft with the 23rd overall pick. He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers shortly thereafter. As a member of the Lakers, Lue won two NBA championships in his first three seasons. After his playing career ended in 2009, Lue became director of basketball development for the Boston Celtics.

In 2014, he was hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers as associate head coach. Lue was promoted to head coach during the 2015–16 season, replacing the fired David Blatt. That year, he led the team to their first and only NBA title, defeating the defending champion Golden State Warriors and becoming a rare NBA rookie coach to lead his team to a title. Lue coached the Cavaliers to the Finals in the next two seasons, but lost both times to the Warriors, and was fired in October 2018. Lue went on to be the head coach of the Clippers and led them to their first Conference finals appearance.

Reader's Guide

Lue graduated from Raytown Senior High School in Raytown, Missouri. He later attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he played basketball and studied sociology. Lue was a key member of the 1995–96 team that won the 1996 National Invitation Tournament, defeating Saint Joseph's University in the finals. He finished his Cornhuskers career ranked third all-time in assists (432), fourth in three-pointers made (145) and attempted (407), fifth in steals (154) and seventh in scoring (1,577). Lue led Nebraska in assists in each of his three seasons and finished his career tied with Dave Hoppen for most games with 30 or more points (7). He declared for the NBA draft after his junior season.