Tyronn Lue arrived in Houston this past weekend to interview for the Houston Rockets’ head coaching job.
“Just who I am as a person, as a coach. How I’m able to hold guys accountable, but still get the best out of guys … let guys play free, put them in a position to to be successful,” Lue said, when asked what his message is to teams he’s meeting with.
Lue and the Rockets will reportedly formally meet today to discuss the coaching vacancy, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times.
Lue spoke about the opportunity.
“It means a lot to have an opportunity to come in and interview for a head coaching job here in Houston,” he said. “It’s very exciting. I’m very happy to be here, having an opportunity to have a chance to coach two MVP players in Russell Westbrook and James Harden.”
The 43-year-old coach has also been linked to the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans’ head coaching vacancies.
Jeff Van Gundy is reportedly considered the favorite to take over the Rockets, but the team is doing their due diligence.
Lue, who played briefly with the Rockets under Van Gundy in the 2004-2005 NBA season, recalled that experience.
“Just playing with T-Mac and Yao Ming. That was unbelievable,” he said. “Having the chance to go on a China trip and go to China with Yao Ming was unbelievable, just seeing how they treat him like [Michael] Jordan over there. It was a great experience for me and also being able to be coached by Jeff Van Gundy, who’s one of the great coaches in the NBA. It was a great experience even though it was short-lived.”
Lue is one of only 14 to win an NBA title as both a player and a coach.
