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SPORTS Tuesday 15 augusT 2023
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For Tyronn Lue, this trip to the Basketball World Cup was a long

time coming

By TIM REYNOLDS true. To have an oppor-
AP Basketball Writer tunity to coach the USA
ABU DHABI, United Arab team, to be around great
Emirates (AP) — Tyronn Lue players and a great staff, it
has waited a long time for was a no-brainer for me. I
this trip. felt badly for Monty, but he
He was supposed to have called me, said I’d have a
the USA Basketball logo great experience.”
on his chest on foreign soil It is not an insignificant com-
long ago 1997, actually, mitment that the coach-
when he was starring as the es are making. They’ll be
point guard at Nebraska together for six or seven
and picked to represent weeks, mostly overseas in
his country at the men’s 22 Spain this past week for two
and under world champi- exhibitions, in Abu Dhabi for
onships in Australia. the next week for two more
But a nagging right leg inju- exhibitions, then it’s off to
ry flared up, causing numb- Manila for the World Cup.
ness so severe he couldn’t If the U.S. plays for a medal
navigate stairs without fall- the team won’t be back
ing. The team ruled him out, home until Sept. 12.
and he flew home alone. That’s less than three
Fast forward 26 years: Lue, weeks before NBA training
the coach of the Los Ange- From left, coaches Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat, Tyronn Lue of the Los Angeles Clippers and camps start. It means that
les Clippers, is now wear- Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors speak at a practice during training camp for the United Kerr, Spoelstra and Lue all
ing the logo overseas. It’s States men’s basketball team Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, in Las Vegas. coaches of teams that
not on a jersey, but on Associated Press will enter this season with
polo shirts, as he’s part of any capacity. So, coach- that practiced against the but when then-Phoenix championship aspirations
the staff that will guide the ing is what it is.” World Cup squad. coach Monty Williams, now are relying on their staffs
U.S. men’s team through Golden State’s Steve Kerr “We know we have a hell the Detroit coach, had to to do all the hands-on off-
the Basketball World Cup is the team’s head coach; of a coaching staff,” U.S. bow out of his assistant- season work while they’re
in Manila starting later this Miami coach Erik Spoelstra forward Bobby Portis of the coach role because of gone. “I have a great sup-
month. “I think it’s an hon- and Gonzaga coach Mark Milwaukee Bucks said. family responsibilities, Lue porting staff,” Lue said. “Our
or,” Lue said. “You grow Few are alongside Lue as It is a think tank of basket- got asked to join the staff staff, they do a lot. I can
up watching basketball, the assistants. The staff also ball, and there’s a certain of assistants. delegate and know they’re
watching the Olympic has former NBA coach Jeff irony in that Lue replaced “Monty had his situa- doing a great job while I’m
team, the Dream Team, Van Gundy helping with as a player 26 years ago tion and Steve and Grant here with USA Basketball.”

you always want to play for scouting and Orlando’s Ja- joined this staff as a re- called me right away and It’s just the latest chapter in
those teams. I wasn’t good mahl Mosley was involved placement. Lue was origi- said, ‘How would you like an upcoming book detail-
enough, but it’s amazing during training camp earlier nally tabbed by manag- to be a part of it?’” Lue ing Lue’s basketball story;
to have an opportunity to this month in Las Vegas as ing director Grant Hill to be said. “And I said, ‘Are you he is in the process of writ-
represent my country in coach of the select team coach of the select team, serious?’ It’s a dream come ing one. q

Rays place Wander Franco on restricted list while MLB investigates

social media posts

By FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — All-Star shortstop Wander Franco and the Tampa Bay Rays
have “mutually agreed” that the 22-year-old will go on the restricted list while Major
League Baseball looks into social media posts involving the player.
The club made the announcement Monday in the wake of social media posts that
began circulating over the weekend. The Rays did not detail the nature of the social
media posts.
MLB has launched an investigation, a person familiar with the probe told The Associated
Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made.
Franco did not play in Sunday’s home series finale against Cleveland at Tropicana Field
and did not accompany the Rays to San Francisco for the start of a six-game road trip
that begins Monday night against the Giants.
“The Tampa Bay Rays and Wander Franco have mutually agreed that he will go on the
Restricted List and take leave from the club for the duration of the current road trip,” the
team said in a one-sentence statement. Tampa Bay Rays’ Wander Franco reacts after being doused by
The road trip, which includes three games against the Giants and three against the Los teammates during a television interview after the Rays defeated
Angeles Angels, ends next Sunday. The Rays return home to face Colorado on Aug. 22. the Cleveland Guardians in a baseball game Friday, Aug. 11,
“We support any steps taken by the league to better understand the situation,” the club 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
said of the MLB investigation. q Associated Press