INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - When Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue gazes down the sidelines during the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, there will be another familiar face besides former Cavs guard Kyrie Irving looking back at him: his cousin, Jayson Tatum.
The Celtics rookie, whom Lue calls, "Little Jay," is from St. Louis, about a two-hour drive from where Lue hails from in Mexico, Missouri. Lue and Tatum's father, Justin, are cousins on Lue's grandfather's side of the family, according to the Cavs coach.
The 20-year-old Celtic in his first season out of Duke, has been spending time with Lue for more than half of his life.