Lue takes break for health issue
Drew will lead team with coach out indefinitely
CLEVELAND — Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue is taking a leave of absence from the team to address health issues that have included chest pains and loss of sleep.
Lue, 40, said Monday in a statement that tests have offered no conclusion about what the issue is and offered no timetable for his return.
The coach said he feels he needs to step away “and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation” from which to coach the rest of the season.
“While I have tried to work through it, the last thing I want is for it to affect the team,” he said. “I am going to use this time to focus on a prescribed routine and medication, which has previously been difficult to start in the midst of a season.
“My goal is to come out of it a stronger and healthier version of myself so I can continue to lead this team to the championship we are all working towards.”
Associate head coach Larry Drew will run the team in Lue’s absence, starting with Monday’s 124-117 home win over Milwaukee. Drew said he received a text from Lue at 1:30 a.m. saying, “It’s your show.”
LeBron James said he was informed of Lue’s decision at morning shootaround, saying it was “probably well overdue.”
“I knew he was struggling, but he was never not himself,” James said. “He was just dealing with it the best way he could. Once he leaves the gym and goes home, there’s things we don’t know, but he was the same every single day even though he was going through what he was going through.”
A stress-filled season for the Cavaliers has taken a toll on Lue, who led them to the 2016 NBA championship after taking over for David Blatt midway through that season.
The Cavs are 40-29, third in the Eastern Conference.