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Clippers' Ballmer a big fan of Ty Lue: 'The best of the best'

Jesse D. Garrabrant / National Basketball Association / Getty

Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is confident new head coach Tyronn Lue will be the right man to lead his team to championship glory.

"We had to get the best of the best. The best of the best is Ty Lue," Ballmer said during Lue's introductory press conference on Wednesday, according to USA Today's Mark Medina.

Lue - who won a championship as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 - was hired as a replacement for Doc Rivers. Rivers parted ways with the organization late last month, then signed on to be the Philadelphia 76ers' next bench boss less than a week later.

Ballmer emphasized the team's unacceptable performance in Orlando, which is what prompted the change.

"The way we ended our season really disappointed me. My personality is all about winning," the 64-year-old added.

Lue owns a career head coaching record of 128-83 (.607 winning percentage) and is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead.

"They chose me. It feels good to be wanted. I'm happy and excited because they took a chance on me," Lue said, per Medina. "It wasn't a situation I turned down other situations. It was a situation where the Clippers wanted me to be here."

The Clippers enter next season still seeking their first conference finals appearance in franchise history.

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