Lue's presence has been a huge factor in the Clippers getting their season back on track.
The Los Angeles Clippers opened the 2025-26 season with a 6-21 record through their first 27 games, a start that typically ends any meaningful conversation about the postseason.
But since mid-December, the Clippers have been one of the better teams in the Western Conference, climbing all the way to 38-36 and holding onto the eighth seed with eight games remaining.
Head coach Tyronn Lue has been at the center of that turnaround, and guard Kris Dunn recently explained what makes Lue's approach so effective for the players around him.
Dunn on What Makes Lue Different
"He's big time. Yeah, he is a player's coach. He instills confidence — super chill, relaxed. He knows the game," Dunn said. "That's the biggest thing he gives players — confidence, because he's confident himself. And [he] allows you to be you on and off the court. As long as you do the right things by this system, there's no flaws."
That confidence has clearly rubbed off on Dunn, who is shooting 48.2% from the field and 38.0% from three this season while averaging 7.7 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 steals across 72 games.
Both Lue and Kawhi Leonard have publicly advocated for him to earn All-Defensive First Team honors, a meaningful endorsement for a player who spent time with six different teams over nine years before settling in with the Clippers.
Lue's Impact Beyond Dunn
Dunn is far from the only player thriving under Lue's leadership this season. Kawhi Leonard is averaging a career-high 28.3 points per game in his 14th year, tied for sixth in the league, while also stringing together 50 consecutive games scoring 20 or more.
At 34 years old, Leonard had every reason to look ahead to next season when the Clippers were struggling through November and December, but Lue kept the environment steady and Leonard responded with arguably the best stretch of his career.
Bennedict Mathurin has been another example.
After arriving from Indiana at the trade deadline, Mathurin looked hesitant in his first game with the team before Lue pulled him aside during a timeout and told him to play aggressively and be himself.
In his home debut, Mathurin scored 38 points to set a Clippers franchise record, and he credited Lue afterward for helping him find his comfort level so quickly.
Garland Adding a New Dimension
The addition of Darius Garland from Cleveland in the James Harden trade has given the Clippers another weapon that Lue has been able to integrate almost immediately into the offense.
In 11 games since his debut, Garland has shot over 50 percent from three on more than seven attempts per game, and the Leonard-Garland pairing has posted a 130.1 offensive rating in their minutes together.
Going from 15 games under .500 to above it represents a turnaround that requires more than just talent.
It takes consistent belief from everyone in the locker room, and a coaching staff that never wavered when things looked bleak.
Lue has built that trust by giving his players freedom within the system and meeting them with confidence when they needed it most.
With a play-in spot still well within reach, the Clippers have positioned themselves as one of the more interesting teams to watch heading into April.