Tyronn Lue reveals treatment for anxiety

Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue took a medical leave of absence for nearly two months towards the end of the regular season. Now, in a new interview with Rachel Nichols of ESPN, Lue revealed he has been getting treatment for anxiety.

“I’m glad it wasn’t anything serious,” Lue told ESPN’s Rachel Nichols in an exclusive interview. “Just anxiety, and the medication I’m on is great. No more chest pains, so everything’s been great.”

Lue took his leave of absence in March after experiencing chest pains and coughing up blood that caused him to miss the second half of the Cavs’ game against the Chicago Bulls on March 17. Previously, Lue talked about diet changes and medication that helped him manage these symptoms.

According to ESPN, Lue underwent tests that revealed his symptoms were caused, at least in part, by anxiety. After the diet changes and taking some time away, however, Lue said he now feels great ahead of the 2018 NBA Finals:

“I think for the first time in my career, 20 years, I had a chance to focus on me. It wasn’t as bad as people thought it was. But I did have some chest pains for the last couple of years. And I was just trying to be able to get through it not knowing what was wrong with me,” Lue told Nichols. “So the two weeks I took off, just finally had a chance to focus on myself and change my diet. Hired a chef. Stopped drinking as many Shirley Temples. And stopped with the sweets and got back to taking care of myself. Now I feel great.”

Lue is the second member of the Cavaliers organization to discuss his mental health battles this year. Kevin Love revealed his own treatment for anxiety in a Players’ Tribune essay back in March, when he disclosed that he suffered from panic attacks and has been seeing a therapist.