Cavaliers fire Lue as coach after 0-6 start

Tyronn Lue didn’t make it through the season’s first month without LeBron James.

The Cleveland Cavaliers fired their coach on Sunday and named assistant Larry Drew interim head coach. The Cavaliers are off to a 0-6 start without James, who left Cleveland this summer for the second time in his career and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent.

Lue guided the Cavaliers to an NBA title in 2016 – Cleveland’s first pro sports championship since 1964 – and helped the team to four straight Finals.

“We thank him for the many ways he has contributed to our success, wish him the best and he will always be remembered for leading a very special Cavs team back against the odds to win the title in 2016,” general manager Koby Altman said in a statement. “This is a different team equation, though, and one that we felt needed a different voice and approach that required this change.”

Assistant coach Damon Jones also was fired. A former Cavaliers player, Jones had been promoted during the offseason.

Lue issued a statement in which he thanked team owner Dan Gilbert, former general manager David Griffin and Altman.

“My time here in Cleveland was truly special,” Lue added. “I am very grateful for the dedication, sacrifice and support of all the players on our team, the tremendous coaches I’ve worked with and of course, our incredible fans.”