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Nebraska Basketball: The Top 5 Players Who Had Success In The NBA

By Oliver Vandervoort

Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Eastern Conference head coach Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during practice for the NBA All Star game at Ricoh Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Eastern Conference head coach Tyronn Lue of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during practice for the NBA All Star game at Ricoh Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue speaks to media following the 93-89 victory against the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
June 19, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue speaks to media following the 93-89 victory against the Golden State Warriors in game seven of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Tyronn Lue

Tyronn Lue starred for the Nebraska basketball team for three years and came very close to Eric Piatkowski’s school record points per game in 1997-98 when he averaged 21.2 points. Lue was more than a scorer, averaging 4.8 assists and two steals per game that season.

Those numbers saw him drafted in the first round by the Denver Nuggers, but like Pike he never played for the team that drafted him. Instead Lue played his first three years for the Los Angeles Lakers before becoming a bonafide journeyman.

Lue played for Orlando, Washington, Dallas, Milwaukee and Atlanta over the course of his playing days. Largely a bench player, he finished his career with 8.5 points per game and 3.1 assists. While those numbers aren’t fantastic, it’s what Lue has managed to do since his playing days are over that make him the undisputed number one player on this list.

Lue just finished his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers as the head coach. He took over shortly after the season started and managed to post a 27-14 record during the regular season.

Next: Nebraska Football: 5 Reasons Jordan Westerkamp Can Win The Heisman

It’s Lue’s last four wins that are most impressive as his Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to win in game seven against the Golden State Warriors. Thanks to the victory, Lue became the first former Nebraska basketball player to win an NBA Championship as a head coach.

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