Austin Rivers isn’t one to mince words, and on the latest episode of Off Guard With Austin Rivers, he made that crystal clear-especially when it comes to his thoughts on Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue. The former NBA guard took aim at Lue’s post-Cleveland track record, questioning what the veteran coach has truly accomplished since winning a title alongside LeBron James in 2016.
“I don’t like the way they’ve handled multiple situations,” Rivers said, referencing his own time with the Clippers. “To be quite honest, I don’t like how they handled my situation.
I don’t know if that is a Lawrence Frank, Ty Lue… neither have gotten enough blame in my opinion. Ty Lue is always blaming somebody else.
Bro, you haven’t done s-t since you weren’t coaching LeBron.”
That’s a strong statement, especially considering Lue’s reputation as one of the league’s more respected minds. But Rivers didn’t stop there. He argued that Lue has been quick to deflect blame when things go south, and pointed out that the coach hasn’t replicated the kind of success he had in Cleveland-when the Cavaliers pulled off that historic 3-1 comeback against the Warriors.
Since taking over the Clippers in 2020, Lue’s regular-season record sits at 240-187. That’s solid on paper, and he did guide the team to its first-ever Western Conference Finals appearance in 2021-a landmark moment for a franchise long haunted by playoff disappointments.
But that run remains the high-water mark of his tenure. Since then, postseason success has been elusive.
Lue’s playoff record in Los Angeles is 16-21 over four appearances, and the team has yet to break through to the NBA Finals.
This season, the pressure is cranked all the way up. The Clippers have stumbled out of the gate with a 6-21 record, and the frustrations are mounting.
The roster is talented, the expectations are sky-high, and yet the results continue to fall short. In that kind of environment, scrutiny is inevitable-and Rivers’ comments only added fuel to the fire.
It’s also worth noting that Rivers’ criticism may be colored by personal experience. He spent two seasons with the Clippers from 2018 to 2020 and has previously voiced dissatisfaction with how his role and eventual departure were handled. That context adds a layer to his remarks, but it doesn’t take away from the broader point he’s making about accountability and leadership in L.A.
The Clippers have championship-level talent on paper, but the clock is ticking. With every loss, the spotlight on Lue grows brighter. Rivers’ blunt assessment may not sit well with everyone, but it reflects a sentiment that’s becoming harder to ignore: for all his experience and past success, Tyronn Lue and the Clippers need results-and fast.