Surviving Brutal Times, “Broke” Lakers Star Turned Coach Details The Good Graces Of Shaquille O’Neal

NBA has changed the lives of many players by giving them fame & money. Many players enter the world bereft of money in the bank.?One such player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and went on to become an NBA coach recently walked through his journey in a podcast.

The ex-NBA star spoke about how he survived the days when he was broke. He also discussed how Shaquille?O’Neal‘s presence in his life helped him to become a better player.?

Shaquille O’Neal: A Guiding Mentor in the NBA

In a candid interview, Tyronn Lue, a former NBA player and current coach, shed light on the challenging early days of his NBA career and his experiences in Los Angeles. Coming from humble beginnings and facing financial hardships, Lou recalls the demanding grind of the NBA, playing multiple games back-to-back and pushing through the physical challenges that came with it.

“Just having a grind man just grind, grind, grind, and then playing 50 games…. we play back-to-back-to-back, we play three games in a row,”?he remarked.

However, amidst the struggles, he found support and guidance from seasoned veterans like Shaquille O’Neal, who took him and his teammates under their wings.

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Lou also reflected on the allure and temptations of the Los Angeles lifestyle, a stark contrast to his upbringing in Mexico. With Shaq’s mentorship and influence over other veterans, Lou navigated LA’s glamorous yet challenging world, learning invaluable life lessons.

?”I had great vets that kept me straight… D fish and Shaq, they took him like no we you’re not doing this, they took me under the wing and got me straight,”?he revealed.

He emphasized the importance of having a solid veteran presence to provide the young players with crucial guidance and wisdom both on and off the court. “What I think is missing in the game today [is] the veterans,” he said.?

Doc Rivers’ vision: Recognizing coaching ability in Lue

Tyronn Lue never thought he would become an NBA coach. Nevertheless, coach Doc Rivers saw the coaching ability in Lue.

Doc recognized his potential to lead a team being a coach. Lue’s natural leadership, basketball IQ, and how he connected with people made Doc believe in him. When presented with the idea of being a coach, Lue shrugged it off. Rivers remained confident, encouraging Lue to consider a coaching role post-retirement.

True to his word, Rivers offered Lue his first coaching opportunity upon retirement in 2009, despite having an official opening with the Boston Celtics. This led to Lue’s gradual transition from player to coach. Starting with roles in Boston and Los Angeles, where he demonstrated exceptional commitment and hard work. Rivers’ faith in Lue proved accurate, and today, Lue is recognized as a remarkable coach in the NBA, validating Rivers’ early foresight of his potential.

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