News

Cavaliers Coach Tyronn Lue Reveals That He Took Time Off From Coaching to Treat Anxiety

March was a difficult month for Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue. His roster had just undergone a drastic shift following a series of wild moves at the trade deadline, his team was stagnating in their pursuit for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and he was facing health difficulties which prevented him from finishing several games. He was apparently suffering from chest pains, which sometimes resulted in him coughing up blood. This eventually forced him to take some time off from coaching in order to treat what was, at that point, an undisclosed issues.

Earlier this week, however, Lue went public with a more in depth revelation about his absence, as he told Rachel Nichols of ESPN that he had been suffering from severe anxiety. He also mentioned that he is now on medication, which he indicates as provided him with a significant amount of relief.

SLIDESHOW: SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2017

Lue told Nichols it was “Just anxiety, and the medication I’m on is great. No more chest pains, so everything’s been great.” He also indicated that it was difficult for him to take time off from the team, as he said, “I think for the first time in my career, 20 years, I had a chance to focus on me. It wasn’t as bad as people thought it was, but I did have some chest pains for the last couple of years. And I was just trying to be able to get through it not knowing what was wrong with me.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Thankfully, Lue stated that the changes he made in is lifestyle during those two weeks have been instrumental in improving his quality of life, saying, “So the two weeks I took off, just finally had a chance to focus on myself and change my diet. Hired a chef. Stopped drinking as many Shirley Temples. And stopped with the sweets and got back to taking care of myself. Now I feel great.”

SLIDESHOW: 30 BEST SPORTS INSTAGRAMS

Lue’s revelation has come at the heels of an interesting time in the NBA, which has featured multiple star players come forth in telling the public that they suffer from mental health issues. In February, Toronto Raptors star guard DeMar DeRozan opened up about his struggles with depression. Then in March, around that time that Lue’s anxiety symptoms reached their climax, Cavaliers forward/center Kevin Love told reporters that he had suffered a panic attack in the middle of a November contest against the Atlanta Hawks.

While there is still a stigma surrounding mental illness in America, especially in the world of sports, it’s encouraging to see such prominent athletic figures coming forth to speak about their own struggles with mental health. It’s also great to see Lue back on the sidelines as the Cavaliers take on the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals for the fourth year in a row.

Mike Conn

Recent Posts

Diontae Johnson Excited To Move From Panthers To Ravens, Could Help In Playoff Push

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson is reportedly settling in well with the Baltimore Ravens after the…

14 hours ago

What Happened To Aaron Judge? After Yankees Fall Short In World Series, Fans Are Asking Questions

Aaron Judge seemed to flip the script on his disastrous World Series and postseason with…

14 hours ago

As The Yankees Collapse In World Series, Free Agency Battle For Juan Soto Begins

The New York Yankees' 2024 season came to a screeching halt Wednesday night when the…

2 days ago

Dodgers Win World Series In Game 5, Yankees Blow Five-Run Lead In Disastrous Finale

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 to win…

2 days ago

Brad Pitt Makes Surprise Appearance At Mexican Grand Prix To Shoot His Movie, ‘F1’

https://youtu.be/Y69VZZt9rt4 Brad Pitt made a surprise appearance at the Mexican Grand Prix’s practice round on Oct. 26.…

3 days ago

76er’s Joel Embiid Stays In NBA News Even While Not Playing

Joel Embiid’s name came up twice in NBA news this week as he continues to…

3 days ago