Scott set for Lakers reunion

Jay Asser 07:23 29/07/2014
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  • Hands full: Scott will be assigned with turning around the Lakers’ fortunes.

    The Los Angeles Lakers are still the only team in the NBA without a head coach, although Byron Scott’s appointment seems only a matter of time.

    Scott claimed over the week­end that he had been hired by the team with ESPN reporting that he’ll receive a four-year, $17million (Dh62.4m) deal, but the franchise is yet to confirm his appointment.

    Scott – who grew up in Ingle­wood, California – is a former shooting guard for the Lakers, win­ning three championships with LA in 1985, 1987 and 1988.

    He expressed his excitement on returning to the team to lead it from the sidelines, which has been vacant since Mike D’Antoni resigned on April 30.

    “It feels fantastic,” Scott told Los Angeles TV station KCBS. “This is a dream come true. I always want­ed to coach the Lakers, especially when I got to coaching.

    “It’s so unreal. I have to thank (general manager) Mitch (Kup­chak), (owners) Jeanie and Jim Buss to give me this opportunity.”

    Scott has the opportunity to reu­nite with superstar Kobe Bryant, this time coaching him after the two were team-mates in Bryant’s rookie season in 1996-97. The five-time champion endorsed Scott for the position earlier in the month.

    “He was my rookie mentor when I first came in the league, so I had to do things like get him doughnuts and run errands for him, things like that,” said Bryant. “We’ve had a tremendously close relationship throughout the years.”

    Scott’s last stop was with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who he coached for three seasons before being fired in 2013. In his first year at the helm in 2010-11, which was also the season after losing LeBron James to the Miami Heat, the Cavs went 19-63, including 26-straight losses which broke the record for the longest losing streak ever.

    Prior to that, Scott had success with New Orleans and New Jersey. Under Scott, the Hornets made the playoffs in two of his five seasons, reaching the Western Conference semifinals in 2007-08 when he was named Coach of the Year. With the Nets from 2000-04, Scott guided a Jason Kidd-led group to consecu­tive Finals appearances in 2001-02.

    Now back in Los Angeles, Scott has his hands full getting the Lakers back in contention. Last season, the team finished 27-55, missing the playoffs for only the third time in the past 38 years.

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