Tyronn Lue has agreed to become the next head coach of the LA Clippers, per multiple reports.
The contract will be for five years — according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski — and has been finalized.
Lue, 43, served as the lead assistant coach for the Clippers last season. His promotion and new contract comes two weeks after LA parted ways with longtime coach Doc Rivers.
Joining Lue on the Clippers’ revamped coaching staff is Chauncey Billups, who is expected to move into a lead assistant role unless named head coach of the Indiana Pacers, per Wojnaworski.
The last time Lue was promoted to head coach came during the 2015-16 season when he took over for the Cleveland Cavaliers and guided them to their first championship in franchise history. Larry Drew, one of his assistants in Cleveland, will also be joining the Clippers’ coaching staff, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Lue will direct a franchise that has never reached the conference finals, but consists of talented players led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. His record as head coach is 128-93.
With the hire of Lue, the NBA currently has six Black head coaches: Doc Rivers in Philadelphia, Monty Williams in Phoenix, Lloyd Pierce in Atlanta, J.B. Bickerstaff in Cleveland and Dwayne Casey in Detroit.
