Drafted as the 23rd overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft, Tyronn Lue was a reliable point guard during his playing days, winning two championships alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal in 2000 and 2001. What makes his playing tenure even more unique is that he also shared the locker room with Michael Jordan during his D.C. days, making him one of the few players who were teammates with all three greats.
It didn't matter to Lue that Mike was almost 40 years old when he came back from retirement in 2001. The point guard was in awe of the GOAT's presence, so much so that it affected his game.
Lue plays with Mike
"So my first year playing, I was always just nervous and deferring to him all the time. Even when I have open shots, always looking for Jordan," Lue said, per The Athletic . "I'm holding the ball, I'm 22 years old, 23 years old."
Tyronn's behavior was understandable. After all, though Jordan had been away from the professional ball for a couple of years, his presence still lingered around the league. He was still regarded as the GOAT. And when he returned, people were excited to see him put on an offensive display.
Lue eventually got the hang of playing with MJ. In his second year with the Washington Wizards , the current L.A. Clippers coach shared that Mike pushed him to look for his shot and be more aggressive. Off the court, he developed a better relationship with MJ as they often went out to dine.
Jordan's seal of approval
The Missouri native's journey to being teammates with Mike started during his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers — particularly in the 2001 NBA Finals. Jordan was so impressed with Tyronn's defensive showcase against Allen Iverson that he offered him a deal.
Little did Lue know that Jordan, then part owner and president of basketball operations of the Wizards, would become his backcourt partner.
"At the time, he didn't tell me he was coming back to play," Lue said. "I didn't know. I was like, 'OK, I'll think about it,' and when he offered me the contract, I was like, 'OK cool, I'm going to take this deal.' Trying to venture out of L.A., where they run the triangle, play more traditional basketball. So I went there, sat down and met him, and then I heard he was coming back."
The experience shaped Lue's later career as a head coach. Tyronn claims that newbies behave differently around stars like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and LeBron James. It's a tough adjustment to play alongside your idols. But Lue knows exactly what to whisper in their ears to get over the jitters and just play ball.
Related: “A lot of guys go out against the guy who was named MVP and play scared. But he didn't” – Allen Iverson showed respect for Tyronn Lue’s efforts in the 2001 NBA Finals
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