The Los Angeles Clippers have found their new head coach from within the organization. Tyronn Lue is finalizing a five-year deal to become the Clippers’ next head coach.
Lue was an assistant coach with the Clippers under Doc Rivers, so he was always considered a top choice to be promoted to head coach after Rivers was fired. He is familiar with the Clippers’ roster and has a close relationship with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, which was almost certainly a factor in the decision.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Chauncey Billups will be Lue’s lead assistant.
Lue won a championship in 2016 as the Cavaliers coach, reaching the NBA Finals in three straight years. As a head coach, Lue is 128-83 overall and 41-20 in the playoffs. As a former NBA player, Lue won two championships as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lue will have big expectations to fill with the Clippers. The team has championship aspirations and a roster that backs that up.
Lue might have that championship voice that the players will listen to, considering their last coach lost his job because players didn’t deliver.