Byron Scott: I’m not always focused on developing Lakers’ young players
Byron Scott has a troubling stance on the development of the Lakers’ young talent
It’s never truly been in question whether or not the Los Angeles Lakers were going to have a rough go of it in the 2015-16 NBA season. With an aging star in Kobe Bryant, most of their top talent being inexperienced, and pieces that fit questionably together, the Lakers aren’t particularly built for success. Their bread and butter this season was always going to be about the development of players like D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson, and Julius Randle.
Somebody should probably tell that to Lakers head coach Byron Scott.
Scott was asked on Friday about the young players on his roster and he had one of the most troubling responses that a coach of a team like the 2015-16 Lakers could have:
Lakers HC Byron Scott on young players: "I’m not always thinking about necessarily developing them. I’m always thinking a/b trying to win."
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) November 5, 2015
That’s just the most baffling thing that Scott could possibly say. If the Lakers had gotten off to a hot start behind the performance of some of their veteran players, that quote might make some semblance of sense. However, the Lakers dropped to 0-4 on Tuesday night with a loss to the Denver Nuggets and have been wholly uninspiring in the process.
It’s not like Scott is burying his young players on the end of the bench; Clarkson is currently leading the Lakers in minutes played and Randle has played more minutes than any frontcourt player. However, that doesn’t make the sentiment from Scott any less troubling and confusing if you’re a Lakers fan. This team isn’t going to win a lot of basketball games this season, so why not focus on establishing the future of the organization as opposed to fighting a losing battle?
The craziest part of all is that the best chance for the Lakers to win some games this season might actually be giving these young players more time on the court together and allowing them to develop a rapport as a unit. Randle and Clarkson have unquestionably been the most impressive parts of the Lakers’ season to this point. Logic would dictate allowing those two young players and Russell as well to grow by getting experience. Theoretically, that could lead to more success later on in the season as the players get more comfortable in their roles and as professional basketball players.
The sentiment that Scott needs to go in Los Angeles is one that’s been echoed by many going as far back as the middle of last season. When he’s saying things like this about his young players on a Lakers team that should be focused on building for the future rather than futilely chasing victories, it’s hard to argue with the people saying that.