I was scared to lead Cleveland Cavaliers to 2016 NBA title, two legends told me I had to do it

After walking out on the Cavs in 2010 to join the Miami Heat, his return to Cleveland attempted to repair the wounds he left.

The title win meant more than his two with Miami – but lost amid the LeBron James hysteria was the outstanding achievement of young coach Ty Lue.

Ty Lue’s first head coaching role

The Cleveland Cavaliers gig was Ty Lue’s first NBA head coaching role. After a playing career, Lue worked as an assistant with the Celtics and then the Clippers.

He was then part of the Cavaliers staff before David Blatt was fired, and he was subsequently asked to step up.

Speaking to The Stephen A. Smith Show, Ty Lue admits he was scared to take the job on, until two NBA legends spoke with him and told him to go for it.

He explained: “Let’s go all the way back to Cleveland, when coach David Blatt got fired and they wanted me to take over, I’m not going to lie, I was scared.

“The locker room was in disarray, we weren’t really getting along as good as we wanted to, and when you have to move over, those six inches, it was hard, and I was scared.

“If it wasn’t for Jerry West and Doc Rivers telling me that I had to take that job, I don’t know if I would have done it.”

Lue was referring to the promotion from working under Blatt, to stepping up, and was unsure if he could mend the broken locker room.

But after getting a pep talk from two esteemed figures, Lue galvanized himself to take the opportunity, and the rest was history.

Lue went on to win the NBA Championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers five months after being appointed in January 2016.

Lue now trying to guide LA Clippers to success

Ty Lue was unable to replicate his success, with the Warriors subsequently tooling up with Kevin Durant and blowing the Cavaliers out in the next year’s finals.

After being fired in 2018, he was hired in 2019 by the LA Clippers, and is attempting to steer them towards a deep play-off run.

In the same interview he admits he needs Kawhi Leonard back to do so, and has no regrets over choosing to keep the former Raptors champion, and trading away Paul George.

The Clippers are 14-10 for the season, sixth in the West, meanwhile his former team the Cavaliers are finally looking rejuvenated in the East, currently 21-3.

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