When a small group of Clippers decision-makers evaluated their pool of coaching candidates last October, Tyronn Lue had something beyond his championship credentials working in his favor — his reputation as an exceptional communicator.
His first three months on the job have tested that. Coaches are straining to be heard inside empty arenas playing in-game music at sold-out decibels.
“With my Missouri accent and with a face mask on, they can’t really understand me too much,” Lue said. “We just got to do what we got to do.”
It has been difficult to hear Lue “at times” during games, star forward Kawhi Leonard said, but during timeouts and practices, pregame addresses and off-day film sessions, the coach has made his offensive philosophy heard loud and clear.