Rowan Kavner 
Digital Content Coordinator
LOS ANGELES – Head coach Doc Rivers could identify certain players through his years in the league who’d inevitably end up coaching.
Among the many, there was Darrell Armstrong. There was current Clippers assistant coach Sam Cassell. And there’s Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue, who turned to Rivers when he was ready to start coaching in the first place.
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“Everything I do is Doc Rivers-driven,” Lue said during All-Star weekend. “He’s taught me a lot. Whenever I need any advice, I always talk with Doc. He’s pretty much been a father figure for me.”
Lue said that relationship began in 2003 when he signed with the Magic, where Rivers was the head coach at the time. It was at that point, Lue recalled, when Rivers told him he could coach with him whenever Lue finished playing.
“I was like, ‘No way,’” Lue said. “Then my last season, 2009, gave him a call. He had a job for me.”
Where Rivers went, Lue wasn’t far behind.
Lue spent four seasons as an assistant to Rivers in Boston. When Rivers took the head coaching job in Los Angeles, Lue spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach for the Clippers.
That experience helped Lue land an assistant head coaching position with the Cavaliers, which eventually turned into the head coaching job. Through it all, Rivers and Lue remained in constant contact.
Even now, two months after taking over as head coach job in Cleveland, that hasn’t changed.
“A lot of communication,” Lue said. “Just all the ups and downs, and when I need advice. He also bounces things off me. It’s just great to have someone like that in your corner when you need some advice or you’re going through some things.”
Rivers said he’s seen players who’ve “jumped off the roof” to him as future coaches. With Lue, there was no question in his mind, and the respect is clearly mutual.
When Rivers and Lue speak, it’s not a one-way street, as Rivers put it. They both give each other advice, even if Lue is new to the job. That’s a testament to how much Rivers believes in Lue’s basketball mind.
“You’d be amazed how much coaches talk about stuff, basketball-related,” Rivers said. “We talk a lot. We text more than anything back and forth. I’m just very proud of him.”
Rivers said he’s glad Lue coaches in the East, because it makes it easier to talk more constantly, playing each other just twice a year. Even still, Lue doesn’t believe the relationship would be any different had he ended up coaching a team in the West.
“I could be with the Lakers and I think he still would help me out and give me advice,” Lue said. “I don’t see a problem with that.”
As the two coaches spoke throughout the season, they knew they’d only need to worry about one regular season matchup against each other.
David Blatt’s final game as head coach of the Cavaliers came against the Clippers back in January. Fast forward nearly two months since Lue took the job, and for once, Rivers wasn’t in Lue’s corner.
Instead, for the first time ever, Lue found himself Sunday afternoon facing off as the head coach of an NBA team against the man who helped him get his first coaching job.
“I’m not excited to coach against Doc, one of the best coaches in this league and arguably the best ATO coach in the NBA,” Lue said before the matchup. “I’m looking forward to seeing him before the game and after the game.”