Lue taking leave from Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue is taking a leave of absence to address health issues that have included chest pains and loss of sleep.
Lue said Monday in a statement that tests did not reveal what the issue is but told ESPN he hopes to return in a week. The 40-year-old said he needs to step away “and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation” from which to coach the rest of the year.
Lue spent the second half of Saturday’s victory in Chicago in the locker room because of an illness, the second time this season he left a game because he wasn’t feeling well.
Associate head coach Larry Drew, a former head coach with Atlanta and Milwaukee, led Monday’s 124-117 win over Milwaukee. Drew said he got a text message from Lue at 1:30 a.m. saying, “It’s your show.”
LeBron James said he was told of Lue’s decision at morning shootaround, saying it was “well overdue.”
“I knew he was struggling, but he was never not himself. He was just dealing with it the best way he could,” James said. “Once he leaves the gym and goes home, there’s things we don’t know, but he was the same every single day.”
A stress-filled season for the Cavaliers has taken a toll on Lue, who led them to the 2016 NBA title after taking over midway through the season. They are 40-29, third in the East, and have endured roster shake-ups, injuries and other distractions as they try for a third straight Finals trip.
Now they will play without their coach. However, All-Star forward Kevin Love returned from a broken hand in Monday’s win.