In 1998, Tyronn Lue was a part of the elite Lakers roster, including Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. During his time with the Lakers, Ty got engulfed in the culture of Los Angeles and revealed how he was living his life then. Speaking to Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson in the All The Smoke podcast, Ty revealed how he partied under Eddie Jones’ tutelage for over 27 nights. However, the Big Diesel Shaquille O’Neal prevented him from succumbing to this lifestyle.
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During his time at the Lakers, Ty Lue won two rings during the Lakers’ three-peat seasons. After the conclusion of his NBA career, he tried his stint as a Head Coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He won a ring with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, thus proving his capabilities both as a player and a coach.
Ty Lue admitted having partied 27 nights in a row under Eddie Jones’ wing
When Ty Lue was first drafted as a rookie by the Lakers, the luster and glory of Los Angeles had baffled him. Before joining the Lakers, Lue had never experienced the city’s bustling lifestyle. Ty quickly came under Eddie Jones’ wing as a rookie, and since then, his life knew no bounds.
In the All The Smoke podcast, Ty Lue revealed how he would party 27 nights with Eddie Jones. In the NBA, we have seen several examples of players ruining their careers due to flamboyant lifestyles. Shaquille O’Neal helped Ty Lue understand the perils of such a lifestyle and get him out of it. Here is how Ty described his experience in the podcast.
“Man, me and Doodles hit the ground we was 21. So me and Doodles first get here. And so who took us under their wing was Eddie Jones. And we went out 27 nights in a row. 27 nights in a row Stak… For Real. And like, man. And that right there just changed who I was as a person. Never drank, never smoke, you know what I’m saying? Just opened your life to a lot different things. And it was crazy.”
“A lot of people plat in LA, cause it opens your life to a whole another lifestyle. And it’s just different. So but I had great vets, they kept me straight. B. Shaw, Robert Horry, Horace Grant, Rich Fox, you know, D. Fish, and Shaq. They took me like ‘Nah, You’re not doing this.’ They took me under their wing and got me straight.”
Shaquille O’Neal himself knows the perils of partying. He was a victim of this when his excessive partying habits cost him the 1995 NBA Finals. Perhaps, he helped Ty Lue from being diverted toward a path that would have cost him his career.
Lue won two rings in the three seasons that he played for the Lakers
Ty Lue played three seasons for the Lakers and was part of the three-peat winning seasons during his time. He has won two rings during that time with the Lakers. However, had he stayed one more season, he would have won a third ring alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Besides these two rings, perhaps the 2016 NBA Championship is the most significant achievement for Ty Lue. Leading a team with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving is difficult. However, he achieved this feat quite easily with his coaching capabilities.
