Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, considered by many as one of the NBA’s elite coaches, signed a new contract that is expected to keep him with the organization for the next several years, the team announced Wednesday.
Terms were not released, but The Athletic reported that Lue’s new deal is a five-year, $70 million contract, making him one of the highest paid coaches in the league. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the signing.
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr (two-year, $35 million extension), San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (five-year, $80 million contract), Miami Heat’s Erik Spoelstra (eight-year, $120 million extension) and Detroit Pistons’ Monty Williams (six-year, $78.5 million contract) top the list.
Lue had one year remaining on his previous non-guaranteed contract, but last August, his option was picked up and guaranteed by the Clippers.
That didn’t deter the rumors, though. Without a new deal in hand, Lue’s name was among those being mentioned for the Lakers head coaching job that became vacant when the team fired Darvin Ham.
Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, said after the season that he had hoped to retain Lue for “a long time…we love Tyronn.”
“He’s an unbelievable partner, I love him as a person and a coach. I think he’s one of the elite coaches in today’s game,” Frank said last month. “We’ve talked about it before, he has a great way of connecting while still holding guys accountable. He’s a truth teller without leaving scars and wounds. He’s an unbelievable strategist who makes terrific in-game adjustments and he has a growth mindset that he’s always looking to get better.”
Lue, who has guided the team for the past four seasons, said during the playoffs that he is happy coaching the Clippers, putting an end to the speculations. He reiterated that in a prepared statement.
“This is where I want to be. I’ve loved coaching this team for the past four years and I’m excited to head into a new era at Intuit Dome,” Lue said. “I’m grateful to Steve (Ballmer, owner), Lawrence and the entire organization for the opportunity. With our ownership, front office, roster, staff and arena, we have all the advantages we need to win in the present and the future, and I’m confident we will.”
Lue has amassed a four-year record of 184-134 (.579), leading the organization to the postseason in three of the past four seasons, including its first Western Conference finals appearance in 2021. This past season, the Clippers finished with a regular season record of 51-31 (.622) record, won the Pacific Division title for the third time in franchise history and entered the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the conference.
Lue also was the first Clippers’ head coach to win consecutive Coach of the Month awards.
Before joining the Clippers, Lue was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016-18, amassing a 128-83 (.607) record, taking the team to three consecutive NBA Finals, and winning the franchise’s first NBA title in 2016. During the 2015-16 season, Lue became the fourth head coach since 1980 to win an NBA Championship in his first year, and the 14th person to have won a title as a head coach and a player. Before Cleveland, Lue worked on the Clippers staff as an assistant coach from 2013-14. He joined the team after spending two years with the Boston Celtics as an assistant coach and director of basketball development.
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