Byron Scott has agreed to a four-year, $17 million dollar deal to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, ending the team’s extensive search that lasted almost three months.
Scott, who spent last year working as an analyst for the Lakers’ television station, Time Warner Cable SportsNet, has long been seen as the frontrunner for the job, having been brought in on three separate occassions for interviews. He also played for the Lakers between 1983-1993 and again during the 1996-97 NBA season. He was a key member of the team during the Showtime era, starting at shooting guard alongside Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Scott coached the New Jersey Nets to two straight NBA Finals appearances during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons (both losses). With rumors of a rift between himself and star point guard Jason Kidd swirling, he was fired in the middle of the 2003-04 season.
Scott then coached the New Orleans Hornets from 2004-2009, and won the Coach of the Year award following the 2007-08 season. After being fired nine games into the 2009 season, he was hired to coach the Clevelend Cavaliers in 2010. Once again, Scott was relieved of his duties as head coach in 2013, and spent last season out of the league.
Kobe Bryant endorsed Scott, who he played with as a rookie in 1996-97, at his basketball camp nearly a month ago:
“He was my rookie mentor when I first came into the league. So I had to do things like get his doughnuts and run errands for him and things like that. We’ve had a tremendously close relationship throughout the years. So, obviously, I know him extremely well. He knows me extremely well. I’ve always been a fan of his.”
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Main Photo via USA Today Sports
