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Tyronn Lue Left a Lasting Impression in Boston

Marc D'Amico
Team Reporter and Analyst

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CLEVELAND – Tyronn Lue began his coaching career with the Boston Celtics back in 2011. Now, four and a half years later, he’ll face his former team as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Lue joined Doc Rivers’ coaching staff with the Celtics as an assistant for the 2011-12 season, two years after he had retired as a player. Those around him quickly realized that he had a knack for the coaching side of things.

Jared Sullinger joined the Celtics during Lue’s second season with the team. The big man said that Lue’s demeanor stood out to him from the very beginning of their relationship, which began with Lue as Sullinger's head coach during the Orlando Pro Summer League.

“He was like a calming effect for our team,” said Sullinger. “He never got frustrated about a lot of things. He was always cool, calm and collected.”

That included moments during which Rivers was at the other end of the spectrum.

“As Doc was yelling at you,” Sullinger said, “T-Lue would pull you to the side and talk to you on the side and you'd pretty much get the message from T-Lue through a calming effect. That helps so many basketball players out. I know for sure it helped me out.”

Lue also made an impact on his peers. Jay Larranaga, who is now in his fourth season as an assistant on Boston’s coaching staff, joined the team during Lue’s second season in Boston. Larranaga remembers the impression Lue made on him during their very first conversation.

“I think Tyronn, the first time you meet him, you recognize how intelligent he is, how well he knows the game,” said Larranaga. “And then the more time you spend with him you realize what a generous heart he has and what a good person he is.

“That was my first year in the NBA,” the coach continued, “and he was somebody who played in the NBA for a long time and had great respect from all the players and coaches and really went out of his way to make me feel at home and to help me in my growth and development as a coach. He’s just somebody that I have a lot of respect for.”

Neither Larranaga nor Sullinger are surprised that Lue rose to a head coaching position in such rapid fashion.

“I just always expect success for Tyronn. He’s just somebody I had a lot of respect for, really from my first impressions of him as a person, as a coach,” said Larranaga. “It doesn’t surprise me that he’s a head coach. I think he’s really well suited for the job that he has.”

From a player’s perspective, Sullinger said, “He deserves it. Going to LA and being an assistant for Doc (with the Clippers), and then being, I think, one of the highest-paid assistant coaches ever, and then now he's a head coach. He took his bumps and bruises, but I'm cheering for him.”

With the exception of tonight.

Those who worked with and played for Lue during his time in Boston have great admiration for him and are proud of what he has accomplished during such a short time. However, tonight, he is the opponent.

The Celtics want nothing more than to deal him a loss during his eighth game as a head coach.