Lakers Reportedly Confirm Byron Scott As New Head Coach
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Lakers have confirmed the signing of Byron Scott as their new head coach.
The head coaching position had been vacant since Mike D'Antoni resigned three months ago.
A press conference is scheduled for Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m., at which Scott is expected to be officially introduced.
The announcement came Monday from general manager Mitch Kupchak.
Scott had told CBS2/KCAL9's Jim Hill on Saturday evening that he and the Lakers had come to an agreement, reportedly worth 4-years and $17 million.
"It feels fantastic," said Scott to Hill. "This is a dream come true. I always wanted to coach the Lakers, especially when I got to coaching. Its so unreal. I have to thank Mitch[Kupchack], Jeanie and Jim Buss to give me this opportunity."
The team, however, declined to confirm the agreement over the weekend.
Scott won three rings as a player, and would be the third member of the showtime Lakers to get a shot as the head coach.
Scott is set to be the 25th coach for the Purple and Gold and the fourth coach after Phil Jackson's final year with the Lakers in 2011.
The relationship between Kobe Bryant and Scott was likely a large factor in the decision.
"Kobe and I have a great relationship, and we have been talking about this for almost the entire summer," said Scott. "I am excited to have the privilege of coaching a guy like that. This is a future Hall of Famer, we all know that, and I feel that he is going to be helping me as well because we see the game in a very similar way. We know that we have to get it done on the defensive end first, and he knows right now, in the last stage of his career, that he is going to have to do some things differently. I love the fact that people keep doubting that this man is going to come back and play great, because I know in my heart, and knowing him the way I do, that he loves those type of challenges. I am looking forward to having Kobe as a guy that I can turn to and say 'lets get the ball to this guy and he can make things happen.'"
Scott, the 2007-08 NBA Coach of the Year, is an Inglewood native, and began coaching in New Jersey in the 2000-01 season. In his second and third seasons with the team, the New Jersey Nets won consecutive Eastern Conference championships.
Following his four years in New Jersey, Scott coached the New Orleans Hornets from 2004 to 2010, before a three year stint in Cleveland. Most recently, Scott's Cleveland Cavaliers managed a 24-58 record through 2012-13.
