The coaching search for the Los Angeles Lakers figures to pick up this week, with Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss reportedly getting involved in a second round of interviews.
And the first round of interviews centered on two candidates: Philadelphia assistant coach Monty Williams and former Cavaliers head coach Ty Lue. It’s been reported as recently as last week that Williams was seen as having a ‘stronger-than-expected’ shot at the job because of concerns within the organization that hiring Lue would give LeBron too much control.
But according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Lue is challenging this notion that he’s only a coach for James in his communications with the Lakers.
(Via Lakers Nation)
“[Lue’s relationship with James] is certainly important, but I think one of the messages Ty Lue wants to get through to Rob Pelinka is, ‘I’m not here to be LeBron James’ coach. I’m here to coach the Lakers. I’m going to coach the whole group.’ I think one of the misnomers of Ty Lue’s time in Cleveland was, listen, he challenged LeBron James. He was hard on LeBron James at times. He’s not there to just be his caddy, and I do think that commanded LeBron’s respect. And I think that will be a big part of the conversation [Lue and Pelinka] have.”
While Williams and James may get along well, Lue has experience in building playoff teams around James and getting the best out of him in the most pressure-filled moments of the season. Lue’s tenure as the Cavaliers head coach began with him challenging James more, holding him accountable in a way that the previous head coach didn’t.
In many ways, Lue can fulfill the same purpose for the Lakers by being someone who speaks the right language for players but challenges them when they don’t do their job.
