Kobe Bryant supports Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott
By Bryan Rose
When Kobe Bryant was a rookie, fresh out of high school, he confined in a veteran talent on the Los Angeles Lakers roster. That player was none other than Byron Scott, who the Los Angeles Lakers hired as their newest head coach this past weekend.
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Scott had been long rumored as the favorite for the job and also the favorite of Kobe Bryant given their prior relationship. Needless to say, the Black Mamba is more than supportive of the Lakers decision to hire Byron Scott who lead the then New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets to two NBA Finals appearances.
”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.”
In addition to having a tie to the organization as a player, Byron Scott also worked on the television side of Los Angeles Lakers broadcasts last season so he’ll have a pretty good understanding of the roster he’ll be overtaking and seems thrilled to be doing so.
”It feels fantastic,” Byron Scott told 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.”
A former Coach of the Year award winner, Scott certainly has the pedigree to turn the Lakers franchise around and with the support of Kobe Bryant, he’s already taking the right steps.