Report: Lakers have offered Byron Scott the coaching job
According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers have officially offered Byron Scott the head coaching job.
Sources: The Los Angeles Lakers have offered Byron Scott their head coaching job. The two sides are now in negotiations.
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 25, 2014
In a follow-up report to his tweet, Broussard reports Byron Scott received a verbal offer from Lakers owner Jim Buss yesterday.
This hiring comes as a surprise to none. In the Lakers prolonged search for a head coach, Byron Scott was interviewed three times for the position, the most recent interview coming on July 17th.
While the decision had yet to have been made, many figured Scott was a shoe-in for the position once he received a glowing recommendation from Lakers superstar and former teammate Kobe Bryant.
Kobe on Byron Scott: "He was my rookie mentor ... We've had a tremendously close relationship throughout the years"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 9, 2014
Asked if he wants Byron Scott to be the Lakers coach Kobe says "yep"
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 9, 2014
Scott’s relationship with the Lakers dates back to his NBA playing career, kickstarting his NBA career as a member of the “Showtime” Lakers in 1983.
Prior to the Lakers, Scott coached for 13 years in the NBA, appearing in the NBA Finals twice in the early 2000s as head coach of the then-New Jersey Nets. Scott has also coached the New Orleans Pelicans and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Byron Scott, as coach of the then-New Orleans Hornets, was awarded Coach of the Year in 2007-08.