10. Tyronn Lue - Los Angeles Clippers ($6.5 Million)
Just clinching the spot on the list is the former NBA champion, Tyronn Lue. He is the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers.
In his short time as a coach, Lue has achieved more than anyone could imagine. He signed a four-year contract with the Clippers in 2020 worth $6.5 million, making him the tenth-highest-earning coach in the league.
Moving on to his career, Tyronn played for the city rivals, Los Angeles Lakers. He won two NBA championships with the Lakers in 2000 and 2001, significantly impacting the latter year.
However, the first-round pick didn't play to his full potential. The point guard spent 11 seasons in the NBA and finished with an average of 8.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
While his playing stats seem ordinary, the coaching stats don't resonate with the former. Currently, in the 8th year as a head coach, Lue has already made history with two different teams.
Congratulations, Coach!
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) February 8, 2023
Tyronn Lue has been named an assistant on the #USABMNT coaching staff for 2023-24 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/7LsKSkrCj7
After retiring in 2009, the Boston Celtics hired him as the Director of Basketball Development. He later worked his way up to assistant coaching. The former point guard joined the Clippers' coaching staff in 2013 for a year.
But things changed when Cleveland Cavaliers came calling. He joined them as an associate coach under David Blatt, becoming the highest-paid assistant coach in the history of the NBA. The franchise fired Blatt mid-season in 2016.
With the crisis came an opportunity for Tyronn Lue, who grabbed it with both hands. As a head coach, he led his team to the Eastern Conference Championships and the NBA Championships.
As a result, Lue became one of the few rookie coaches to win the NBA championship. He led the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA glory, coming back from 3-1 against the State Warriors.
Furthermore, the former point guard replicated the performance in the next two seasons, only to get beaten by the State Warriors twice. Lue started the 2018 season with a 0-6 record and was fired.
Joining the Clippers in 2020, Tyronn led the franchise to their first-ever Western Conference finals, only to lose to the Phoneix Suns.