Cavaliers coach Ty Lue taking break to deal with health issues

11:23 AM ET

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue will step back from coaching to focus on his health, the team announced Monday.

Lue, 40, left Saturday night's 114-109 win against the Chicago Bulls with an illness, marking the third time this season that his health has kept him from coaching an entire game.

"After many conversations with our doctors and [general manager] Koby [Altman] and much thought given to what is best for the team and my health, I need to step back from coaching for the time being and focus on trying to establish a stronger and healthier foundation from which to coach for the rest of the season," Lue said in a statement.

"I have had chest pains and other troubling symptoms, compounded by a loss of sleep, throughout the year. Despite a battery of tests, there have been no conclusions as to what the exact issue is.

"While I have tried to work through it, the last thing I want is for it to affect the team," Lue continued. "I am going to use this time to focus on a prescribed routine and medication, which has previously been difficult to start in the midst of a season. My goal is to come out of it a stronger and healthier version of myself so I can continue to lead this team to the Championship we are all working towards."

Said Altman, in the same statement: "We know how difficult these circumstances are for Coach Lue and we support him totally in this focused approach to addressing his health issues."

Associate head coach Larry Drew will take over in the interim.

Lue had to leave a loss to the Orlando Magic on Feb. 6 because he was not feeling well. He also missed a game Dec. 21 against the Bulls with an undisclosed illness, needing to stay in the locker room after arriving at the arena and going through his pregame media duties.

When asked Saturday if Lue's health has affected the Cavs this season, LeBron James said, "I mean, he's the captain of the ship, so absolutely. We worry about his health, obviously. That's way more important than this game of basketball.

"We know he's been doing everything he needs to do to stay healthy," James said. "Take even more measures to get himself right. Everything that's been going on with our year, it's just another one."

ESPN's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.

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