Tommy Lloyd: Arizona coach by day, aspiring DJ on the side

SAN JOSE, CA — Being a DJ is no easy job.

In front of thousands of people, you have to craft a setlist that flows smoothly and effortlessly while maintaining the atmosphere, keeping the crowd engaged and vibing to the environment they crave.

Advertisement

The tough part is the perfection needed for it. You have to understand the moment while building the next one. One minor slip up can derail it all, killing the vibe and destroying all the work built toward that moment. You cannot afford it.

It’s quite the skill. Maybe that’s why Tommy Lloyd enjoys it.

“I can talk about that all day,” he said.

Leading Arizona in its quest of breaking its Final Four drought, Lloyd’s sidequest includes spinning it on the turntables in becoming a DJ.

He may not strike you as one you’d see mixing songs or making the beat drop, but Lloyd is quite the music lover. And this hobby he’s picked up has come with a masterful teacher, “one of the best DJs of all time” in Mix Master Mike.

Advertisement

“My sport is the art of turntables and hip hop. His sport is basketball. We just decided to collide into those two professions, and now we’re here,” Mike told USA TODAY Sports. “It’s just an amazing thing.”

It all starts with Lloyd being a big fan of the Beastie Boys, who toured with Mike, regarded as one of the greatest DJs to exist as a three-time world champion. Lloyd had seen him several times in-concert, and one day, decided he wanted to do more than listen to the music.

“He was just fascinated by the art. He’s totally into music. He was, ‘yeah, I want to DJ with Mike,’” he said.

Advertisement

So, Mike invited him and his wife to his studio and decided to show Lloyd the ropes, which he said was “really cool to see them explain to you the process a little bit.” Since then, it’s been more than a DJ guru and student, but also a tight friendship between the two.

Mike also noticed how this fun side gig has helped Lloyd take his mind off the pressures of being a coach, a healthy balance when you can easily get consumed by work.

All the learning and training led to the Red-Blue Showcase ahead of the season. In addition to being the introduction of the 2025-26 season, afterward was an afterparty outside of the arena.

It was headlined by Mike, Shaquille O’Neal — aka DJ Diesel — and Lloyd.

Advertisement

Or, DJ Tomm-EE.

When he told the team about what he’d do, it seemed random. But also, not really.

“Honestly, kind of seems on brand,” said forward Tobe Awaka. “He’s kind of a guy that likes to explore and do different things.”

So, how is DJ Tomm-EE?

“He did pretty good,” said guard Brayden Burries. “He got a little work to do, but he’s pretty good.

“I think he’s still growing,” Awaka said. “For a beginner, they were solid.”

“He’s getting a lot better,” Mike said. “He has an ear for music.”