Tyronn Lue

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lue's coaching ascent began on January 22, 2016, when he was named head coach following the firing of David Blatt. Signed to a three-year contract, he immediately guided the Cavaliers through an unbeaten streak in the playoffs, becoming the first coach in NBA history to win his first 10 postseason games. His path to glory culminated in the 2016 Finals against the Warriors. Facing a 3-1 deficit, Lue utilized flexibility and matchup adjustments, shuffling players around LeBron James to counter Golden State's strengths. In Game 7, he was ejected early but continued directing the offense from the bench. The Cavaliers secured a 93-89 victory, with Lue becoming only the third head coach to win a title after taking over mid-season, joining Paul Westhead and Pat Riley.

In Their Own Story

The 2016–17 season saw Lue guide the Cavaliers to a 51–31 regular-season record. The team entered the playoffs with dominant momentum, posting a 12–1 record before reaching the NBA Finals. However, they ultimately lost to the Golden State Warriors in five games. After the season, Kyrie Irving was traded to the Boston Celtics, ending the franchise's superteam era. In 2018, Lue took a leave of absence on March 19 due to recurrent chest pain but returned before the regular season concluded. He led the team to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals appearance, where they lost to the Warriors in four games. With LeBron James departing for the Los Angeles Lakers and an aging roster remaining, the Cavaliers started the 2018–19 season with a 0–6 record. On October 28, 2018, the organization fired Lue.

Reader's Guide

As a player, Tyronn Lue joined Cleveland in 2004 via trade from Orlando alongside Tracy McGrady and Juwan Howard. His time in Houston was brief due to an overabundance of point guards before he moved to Atlanta mid-season for Jon Barry. In Atlanta, despite his efforts, the team posted a franchise-worst 13–69 record in one season. He later played for Dallas and Milwaukee before returning to Orlando in 2009, where he lost in the Finals to his former team, the Lakers. His coaching career started as director of basketball development for Boston in 2009, then associate head coach in Cleveland in 2014. He was promoted to head coach during the 2015–16 season. While he led the Clippers to their first Conference finals appearance later in his career, his Cavaliers tenure remains defined by the singular triumph of 2016.

Did You Know?

• Lue became the first coach in NBA history to win his first 10 postseason games.
• He is only the third head coach ever to win an NBA championship after becoming head coach mid-season, joining Paul Westhead and Pat Riley.
• In Game 7 of the 2016 Finals, Lue was ejected but continued coaching from the bench as the Cavaliers defeated the Warriors.
• Lue played for Cleveland in two stints: first with Orlando (traded), then Atlanta, before his final playing years ended in Orlando in 2009.