Tyronn Lue, the newly-minted head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, wants to achieve on-court success like his predecessor Doc Rivers.
More than guiding the Clippers to be one of the best teams in the NBA, Tyronn Lue wants to be the voice for Black coaches, just like what Rivers has done.
Tyronn Lue has a mission: to guide the loaded Clippers to a first NBA title. Yet, Lue also expressed the desire to continue Rivers' mission to defend African-American coaches — to speak out whenever he sees any form of injustice.
“He needs me to be that next voice for the Black coaches coming up through the NBA,” Tyronn Lue said in an interview with The Associated Press, per Yahoo Sports. “Doc is great. Any time there’s a crisis or anything gets bad for our country, he’s always a spokesperson for the NBA. Him and Pop. … And Doc told me: ‘Ty, you have to be that next one. You have to be the one to step to the forefront, protect the Black coaches, and speak out for the Black coaches.’”
At one point in this offseason, there were just a total of four Black head coaches in the NBA. With the Philadelphia 76ers hiring Rivers as well as Tyronn Lue's appointment, the number is now back to six. But a few years ago, African-American coaches held a then-record 14 NBA jobs.
Tyronn Lue clarified that he doesn't just want more Black coaches in the NBA. He wants to give other Black coaches a second shot.
“If the Black coach is not better, then he shouldn’t get the job, and vice versa,” Tyronn Lue said. “So that’s how I feel about it. I know there’s a lot of great coaches out there, Black coaches, that have proven themselves and have been good but just haven’t gotten a second chance or another opportunity to show.”
Tyronn Lue certainly has a very noble goal. Rivers is very proud of him.
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