Larry Drew is a former player, now serving as the assistant coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. One of a kind, his success speaks volumes for what he has accomplished over the years.
From a player to now a coach, his immense love for the sport makes him one of such personalities who have dedicated his life to the sport.
He has amassed 8,110 points in 714 NBA games, and as a recognition for his immense contribution, he was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
Only a handful can match his career statistics; such is his record in the NBA. Larry Drew’s NBA career statistics include 1,265 rebounds and 3,702 assists.
The former point guard was born in Kansas and started his coaching career with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1992.
Let’s move to the quick facts first before diving into the details about the spectacular coach, Larry Drew.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Larry Donnell Drew |
| Known as | Larry Drew |
| Birth Date | April 2, 1958 |
| Birth Place | Kansas City, Kansas |
| High School | Wyandotte (Kansas City, Kansas) |
| College | Missouri (1976–1980) |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Unknown |
| Siblings | Not available |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
| Age | 66 years old |
| Height | 6’1” (1.85 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (70 kg) |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Body type | Athletic |
| Profession |
|
| Position | Point Guard |
| Current Team | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Draft | 1980 / Round 1 / Pick: 17th Pick Overall, Selected by Detroit Pistons |
| League | NBA |
| Active years | 1980 – Present |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Sharon Drew |
| Children | Larry II, Landon, and Lindsey. |
| Mother’s Name | Not Known |
| Father’s Name | Not Known |
| Siblings | Not Known |
| Salary | Not known |
| Merch | Los Angeles Clippers Beach Towel |
| Social Media | Not Available |
| Net Worth | $1 million – $5 million |
| Last Update | April 2024 |
Larry Drew | Early Life
Larry Donnell Drew was born on April 2, 1958, in Kansas City, Kansas. Since his early days, he was an avid learner, and as a reflection, he consistently scored good marks.
He was competitive from his early days and demanded the best from himself, trying and testing himself to limits.
That brought the best in him. At the early age of 16, Larry Drew enrolled in Wyandotte (Kansas City, Kansas).
Realizing the sheer value of knowledge, on completion of his high school education, he went to complete his undergraduate degree from Missouri (1976–1980), a public US State University.
Belonging to a working-class family, the financial position for his family was perilous. Such was the situation every day, it was a fight to earn a living. Those hardships served him well.
The invaluable lessons he took from those early childhood days make him realize, “Things can easily be taken from you when it is easily given to you.”
He deduced to the only conclusion, one that served him well till date, to respect what one has. Not everyone is favored enough.
Nothing is for granted; that made him work harder and keep focusing on the bigger picture. This propelled him to keep moving forward, maintaining his earned status, and never looked back.
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Larry Drew | Professional Career
NBA Draft
Drew was inducted to the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 1980 NBA draft, being the 17th overall pick.
His career spanned over a decade in the NBA, having played 10 seasons for various teams in the NBA, notably for the Pistons, Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, and Los Angeles Lakers.
In his prolonged NBA career, Drew has managed to play in 714 games and has smashed a total of 8,110 points.
His best year as a player came during the 1982–83 season as a vital player of the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, appearing in 75 games and amassing an average of 20.1 points, 8.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per contest.
Scavolini
On approaching the twilight of his scintillating NBA career, he played his hands in a different league in the late 90s.
In a new country with a different culture, transitioning to the everyday lifestyle was sort of complicated, even for a player of his stature. He played in the Italian League with Scavolini in the 1988-1989 season.
Los Angeles Lakers
Larry Drew played for the Los Angeles Lakers for the next two seasons, having played for Scavolini in the Italian League in 1988-1989. He hung up his boots in 1991, the last team to have played for being the Los Angeles Lakers.
Larry Drew | Coaching Career
With a successful career as an NBA player, he plowed his hands on a managerial career after taking a year break from his retirement. Initially, he started out as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers (1992–1999).
He then progressed his ranks and went on to work with Detroit Pistons (1999–2000), Washington Wizards (2000–2003), New Jersey Nets (2003–2004), and Atlanta Hawks (2004–2010) in the preceding years.
With the experience and coaching skills he honed in those years he served as an assistant coach, he was appointed as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks in 2010–11, having signed the contract for the next 2 seasons.
His contract, reaching its maturity in the 2012 – 2013 season, Hawks refused to re-sign the contract with Drew and was replaced by Mike Budenholzer as the head coach.
Drew found his next team in the Milwaukee Bucks when they drafted him as their head coach on May 31, 2013. However, things didn’t go as planned as the Bucks had one of their worst seasons in the NBA.
On June 30, 2014, after the acquisition of head coach Jason Kidd from the Brooklyn Nets, Larry Drew was relieved of his position.
Cleveland Cavaliers found their assistant coach in Drew when he agreed to take over the team and was officially drafted on August 19, 2014. History was made when the Cavaliers with Drew as their assistant coach, won their first NBA Championship on 19 June 2016.
The Cavaliers named Drew their interim head coach for the period while the team’s head coach Tyronn Lue took a prolonged leave as his health conditions worsened. He was officially announced the head coach of the Cavaliers on March 19, 2018.
Runway with Cavaliers
The Cavaliers had an excellent start to the season and had successive winning streaks. The team won 8 of the 9 games, having lost a game in controversial conditions.
Drew served well in Lue’s absence, With rumors swirling around who is going to be the acting head coach for the Cavaliers in the 2018-2019 season, the Cavaliers named him their acting head coach following the firing of Tyronn Lue on October 28, 2018.
Drew wanted to back in the transfer market if he were to be the Cavaliers’ interim head coach instead of the team hiring a new head coach. The rumors of him leaving the team were put out for a period, when the Cavaliers named him as their permanent head coach on November 5.
Drew and the Cavaliers mutually agreed to part ways after his contract expired following the 2018–19 season on April 11, 2019.
Drew did not find himself out of work for long as he was drafted in as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers, under head coach Tyronn Lue on November 16, 2020.
NBA Statistics
Points: 8110 points
Rebounds: 1265 (1.8 RPG)
Assists: 3702 (5.2 APG)
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Larry Drew | Personal life
On having a successful and rewarding career, it’s obvious his personal life has always been a center of attraction. He is married to Sharon Drew and together are the proud parents of three children Larry II, Landon, and Lindsey.
His older son, Larry II, is following in the footsteps of his father, having played collegiate basketball in North Carolina before transferring to UCLA Bruin’s Basketball team in 2011. He last played in the NBA for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Landon played for Cal State Northridge and the youngest of his, Lindsey, plays for the men’s basketball team of the University of Nevada.
Larry Drew | Career History
As a Player
| 1980-1981 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1981 – 1986 | Kansas City / Sacramento Kings |
| 1986 – 1988 | Los Angeles Clipper |
| 1988 – 1989 | Scavolini Pesaro |
| 1989 – 1991 | Los Angeles Lakers |
As a Manager
| 1992- 1999 | Los Angeles Lakers (assistant) |
| 1999 – 2000 | Detroit Pistons (assistant) |
| 2000 – 2003 | Washington Wizards (assistant) |
| 2003 – 2004 | New Jersey Nets (assistant) |
| 2004 – 2010 | Atlanta Hawks (assistant) |
| 2010 – 2013 | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2013 – 2014 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2014 – 2018 | Cleveland Cavaliers (assistant) |
| 2018 – 2019 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2020 – Present | Los Angeles Clippers (assistant) |
Larry Drew | Net Worth
The Kansas native has a massive fan following, his work in the NBA, then as a player, and now as a coach has not got unnoticed amongst fans.
His massive fan following has become a good source of revenue and generates ample amounts of money through sponsorships and brand endorsements.
His documented salary with the Milwaukee Bucks was reported to be at $ 2 million per annum. Combine those with three seasons he has had with the Bucks; he racked up $ 6 million in salaries.
His investments are huge and his net worth at least should be close to $5–$10 million.
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Social Media Presence
For a personality as famous as Larry Drew, it’s quite surprising that he is not present on social media handles.
Maybe, it’s the generational thing, the way it has always been amongst the people of the 60s, to prefer not to be on social media.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Larry Drew play in the NBA?
Where is Larry Drew now?
Drew has devoted 30 years of his life to the NBA as an NBA player, assistant, and head coach, including a championship run in Cleveland. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Clippers.
