Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue was sidelined for Sunday’s game and could miss additional time due to back pain.
The team announced that Lue had returned home and would not coach against the Sacramento Kings, with assistant coach Brian Shaw stepping in for at least the night. Lue, 47, has been at the helm of the Clippers since 2020, amassing a 218-163 (.572) record, but this isn’t the first time health issues have forced him to step away.
In 2018, while coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lue took a brief leave of absence due to chest pain and other health concerns. He has also missed games with the Clippers due to illness, sparking speculation in the past about his long-term availability.
With former Clippers assistant Dan Craig now on the Chicago Bulls’ staff, Shaw—a former Denver Nuggets head coach—takes over in Lue’s absence. The Clippers also have Jeff Van Gundy, an ex-NBA head coach, overseeing their defense in his first season with the team.
The Clippers entered Sunday’s game at 34-29, sitting eighth in the Western Conference and just 1.5 games away from a top-six spot. With a three-game East Coast road trip ahead, Lue’s status remains uncertain.