Tyronn Lue praises Valkyries head coach Nakase: ‘Natalie’s the best’

SAN FRANCISCO — Tyronn Lue is regarded as one of the NBA’s finest minds, having helped lead the Cavaliers to the 2016 NBA Championship and joining Steve Kerr’s staff this summer as Team USA brought home gold. A plurality of general managers voted Lue as the coach who makes the best in-game adjustments in this year’s annual survey.

He’s also a booster of Natalie Nakase, the Golden State Valkyries’ first head coach in franchise history.

“Natalie’s the best,” Lue said from the visiting team’s podium before the Warriors’ home opener.

Nakase worked for the Clippers for a decade, overlapping with Lue for the last four years of her tenure. She was an assistant coach and player development in a dual role with the Clippers and their G League affiliate. Part of her job responsibilities included aiding Lue in his in-game planning on both ends of the court.

“She’s just a hard worker,” Lue said. “Just dedicated to work. A lot of questions. And if you ask her a question that she doesn’t know the answer to, she’s going to go get it. Just over the years, she’s kind of like my little protégé.”

The Valkyries hired Nakase after a months-long hiring process. Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and the ownership group are confident in Nakase’s ability to lead an organization and build it up from scratch.

After she worked with Lue and the Clippers, Nakase spent three season as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces, winning back-to-back WNBA titles.

Nakase, a third-generation Asian-American, will become the first Asian-American head coach in WNBA history when the Valkyries begin their inaugural season next spring.

“I’m just happy she finally got an opportunity, because she deserves it,” Lue said. “All the work she puts in from Day 1, just seeing how she grinded to get to where she’s at today, I’m very excited and happy for her.”

Notable

— The Warriors stayed with their starting lineup for a third straight game, going with a five of Steph Curry, Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Trayce Jackson-Davis. In each of Golden State’s first two games, the starters struggled early, but opened the second half strong. The unit is built around defense and athleticism, but lacks outside shooting. 

— Golden State had everyone on the active roster available; Clippers star Kawhi Leonard remains out indefinitely with a knee injury.

— This is the Warriors’ first home-opener since 2010 without Klay Thompson in the organization. He missed consecutive seasons with injuries, but now he’s with the Dallas Mavericks. Through two games, Thompson is averaging 20.5 points per game on 11-for-22 shooting from deep (50%).

“When you lose a caliber of player Klay was to Golden State, like (Paul George) was to us, and still be able to play at a high level, still be able to score the basketball, that says a lot about Steve (Kerr)’s coaching,” Lue said. “But with Klay gone, they still have guys who can shoot the ball. Buddy Hield’s a great shooter. (De’Anthony) Melton’s a good shooter. But when you think about Golden State, you do think about Klay and Steph. So it’s going to be a little different tonight.”

— The Warriors attempted to acquire Paul George in a sign-and-trade this summer, but the All-Star wing ended up signing with Philadelphia. Lue said he wouldn’t have wanted to face the Warriors with George, noting how well he would have fit next to Curry and Green.