Video: Former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Ty Lue reveals how he stashed money in Warriors' locker room ceiling for Finals game
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors met in the NBA Finals for four straight seasons between 2015 and 2018. Cavaliers head coach Ty Lue shared how he inspired his roster to win the franchise's first championship in 2016.
Appearing on former NBA player J.J. Redick's podcast, The Old Man and The Three, Lue stated:
"After Game 5, we were going home for Game 6. We won Game 5, we're in the locker room and I had everybody in the locker room give me $200. All the players, Mr. Gilbert, Griff, everybody. Everybody give me $200, and they said, 'What you doing with this money?'
"I wrapped it up and put it in the ceiling and said, 'Are we coming back for Game 7 to get our money?'
"We go to Golden State for Game 7, we win the championship, everybody's going crazy and I go in the ceiling and get the money. First thing Bron asked me, 'Hey, man, where's our money?' I said, 'Man, I don't know, it disappeared', but I kept it for myself."
"Just think about that. We win the championship and Bron asks 'Where's the money at?' that's hidden in the ceiling. Doesn't miss anything, but I kept it, so now you know Bron."
The 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers have completed one of the most historic comebacks in NBA Finals history. Head coach Ty Lue used a unique form of motivation to help bring the team back from their 3-1 deficit.
Watch Ty Lue discuss hiding money in the Oracle Arena ceiling below:
Ty Lue on stashing money in the ceiling after game 5 of the 2016 Finals https://t.co/hHPwfATWBG
Can the Cleveland Cavaliers contend for an NBA title?
After making four straight NBA Finals appearances, the Cleveland Cavaliers have gone through a rough three-year stretch, winning just 19, 19, and 22 games. Last season, however, many of the Cavaliers’ young players began to emerge as high-level NBA players.
The Cavaliers finished 2021-2022 with 44 wins, doubling their total from the previous season. While they lost two consecutive play-in games and missed the playoffs, it was clear Cleveland was ahead of schedule.
While the Cavaliers defense ranked fifth in opponents points per game and seventh in defensive rating, their offense was just 25th in points per game and 20th in offensive rating. To improve their offense, the front office landed Donovan Mitchell in a blockbuster offseason trade.
Cavs 2022/23 Roster:
Garland — All-Star/Top 3 in MIP race
Mitchell — All-Star
Allen — All-Star
Mobley — 2nd in ROY race/Future All-Star
Love — 2nd in 6MOY race
Tons of talent. https://t.co/PA4fostzMl
While it is still very early in the season, the early results have been encouraging for the Cavaliers. Their defense has improved to second in both opponent points per game and defensive rating. Furthermore, their offense currently ranks 16th in points per game and eighth in offensive rating.
Those latter two numbers figure to increase when All-Star point guard Darius Garland returns. Garland, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers in scoring last season, has played just 13 minutes this season after suffering an eye injury in Cleveland's opener.
While the Cleveland Cavaliers figure to make the postseason, it is hard to envision them as true title threats just yet. As talented as the young roster may be, they have yet to even make the postseason. The future, however, looks very bright as they have four All-Star caliber players, all 26 or younger, locked into multi-year contracts.