Ty Lue spills truth about LeBron James intervention for Lakers coaching job
Ty Lue told Stephen A. Smith about LeBron James' conversation with the Lakers after denying the coach an opportunity.
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Ty Lue reveals LeBron James' conversation with Lakers after lowballing Lue
Tyronn Lue, current head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, recently revealed a pivotal moment in his coaching career involving NBA superstar LeBron James. During an appearance on The Stephen A. Smith Show, Ty Lue opened up about a contentious period in 2019 when he was offered the head coaching position for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers had extended a lowball offer to Ty Lue, proposing a three-year deal with less pay and conditions that would give the organization control over his coaching staff. For a championship-winning coach who had led the Cleveland Cavaliers to 3 consecutive NBA Finals and secured their first-ever title in 2016, this proposal felt like an insult.
I don’t think they had the same respect for me as I felt they should.
Tyronn Lue shared
When LeBron James learned about the offer, he quickly intervened. Lue revealed that James called him twice, offering his support and asking how he could help rectify the situation. Along with his agent Rich Paul, James advocated on Lue’s behalf to the Lakers’ organization.
He called me, ‘What do I have to do?’ I said, ‘No, I want them to respect me. I don’t want to have to go to you to get my deal done. If they don’t respect me like I should be respected, then it’s okay.’ He and Rich both stepped in and said, ‘What are we going to do to get it done?’ I didn’t like the way it was handled.
Tyronn Lue added
Ty Lue says LeBron James personally called him after Lakers sent low-ball coaching offer:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 9, 2024
“He called me twice… 'What do I have to do? I said, 'No, I want them to respect me… I don't want to have to go to you to get my deal done; if they don't respect me like I should be… pic.twitter.com/yCCEpZjVTY
Eventually, the Lakers would end up passing on Ty Lue and choosing Frank Vogel as their head coach instead. They would go on to win the NBA championship under him in the 2019-20 season, earning LeBron James his 5th ring.
LeBron James and Ty Lue’s relationship
LeBron James and Ty Lue’s history is deeply intertwined. Lue took over as the Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coach during the 2015-16 season, replacing David Blatt midseason. The move proved fruitful as the Cavaliers staged a historic comeback against the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Finals that year.
Under Lue’s leadership, the Cavaliers made three consecutive Finals appearances, though they lost two of those series to the Warriors’ superteam. When James left for the Lakers in 2018, the Cavaliers entered a rebuilding phase, leading to Lue’s dismissal after a winless six-game start to the season. Lue’s final record coaching James was an impressive 128-83, with three Finals berths and one championship.
Since joining the Clippers, Ty Lue has faced LeBron James as a rival in the Western Conference. Their head-to-head record is heavily skewed in Lue’s favor, with James winning only 3 of their 11 encounters since Lue’s hiring and recent extension with the Clippers. However, it’s safe to say that the Lakers could certainly use Lue’s help, given their recent coaching troubles.
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Armaan Gupta
(344 Articles Published)