Lue Is Inspired by Jordan

The media mob around him was so tight, he barely had room to dress in the Washington Wizard locker room. Encircled by microphones, cameras and pads, he spun in all directions to field the volley of questions coming his way, patiently dealing with each one.

Tuesday, he was the Wizard everybody wanted to talk to, the man who had returned to Los Angeles hoping to build upon his reputation.

The face is so familiar. So’s the name: Tyronn Lue.

While that other well-known Wizard, Michael Jordan, doesn’t talk before games, Lue, a Laker for three seasons and a defensive force in last year’s NBA Finals before signing with Washington as a free agent, was more than happy to talk about life with Jordan.

“I played with Shaq [O’Neal] and Kobe [Bryant] and now I’m playing with Michael,” Lue said. “I’ve been blessed is all I can say.”

Lue was hoping to get more playing time with the Wizards. But, he said, his anticipation turned to awe when it became official that Jordan was coming back.

“All the guys were in awe,” Lue said.

And for awhile, the Wizards found themselves unable to function.

More of a fan club than a ballclub, the team lost nine of its first 11 games.

“The guys looked for Michael to do too much,” Lue said. “It changed when Michael said, ‘Look at me as at teammate, not as the president of the team.’ When we did that, we started to win games.”

Nevertheless, Lue is still in awe, and it’s a learning experience.

“I learn just from the way he carries himself,” Lue said, “both on and off the court.”

But Lue has learned, as so many others have over the years, you step on Superman’s cape only at your own risk.

“In practice, we were teasing him about his three-point shooting,” Lue said. “He said, ‘Let’s go.’ I’ve gone up against him, but I haven’t beaten him yet.”

The 6-0, 183-pound Lue was averaging 14.6 minutes before Tuesday night, 4.0 points and 2.8 assists.

Before the game, Laker General Manager Mitch Kupchak presented Lue with his championship ring from last season.

Steve Springer