Lakers News and Rumors: Could Byron Scott Be Los Angeles' Next Head Coach?
The Los Angeles Lakers coaching search has already started, and one familiar figure was interviewed by general manager Mitch Kupchak about his interest in handling the team next season.
ESPN's Chris Broussard reported on Thursday that Byron Scott was interviewed for the Lakers coaching vacancy, which was later confirmed by the former Lakers point guard in a SiriusXM NBA Radio interview.
"I mean, it is true, I did interview with the Lakers. I talked to Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss and had a great time talking with those guys," Scott said.
Scott, who added that he has a good relationship with Kupchak, declined to give details about the discussion, while saying that he is hoping that he will be able to sit down with Lakers executives again in the near future.
"Obviously I go way back with Mitch, teammates for a while and won a couple of championships together, so it was good. That's basically all I can tell you. It was good, I had a lot of fun talking to them. Hopefully we'll be talking again soon and we'll see what happens," Scott said.
Scott started his coaching career with the New Jersey Nets, who he led to two-straight finals appearances in 2002 and 2003 before getting fired during the 2003-04 season.
The 53-year-old coach also coach the New Orleans Hornets from 2004 to 2009, which was followed by a coaching stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2010 to 2013.
Scott's three-year stint with the Cavaliers did not go well, racking up a measly 64-166 record. But despite a disappointing campaign in his last coaching tenure, Scott is enjoying the support of Lakers fans and former teammates.
Magic Johnson, one of the most vocal critics of former coach Mike D'Antoni, expressed support to Scott.
"Laker Nation: Great to see my former teammate Byron Scott get interviewed for the Lakers head coaching job!" Johnson posted on his Twitter account.
Scott's former teammate and current NBA analyst James Worthy also endorsed Scott as the team's next coach.
"I played with Byron Scott, so I know what he brings to the table," Worthy said in an interview with ESPN. "I know that he holds people accountable and he's a defensive kind of genius when it comes to that I got to go with my good friend Byron Scott, if it was up to me."
Aside from Scott, recent reports indicated that the Lakers also interviewed Mike Dunleavy for the coaching vacancy, while former Lakers point guard Derek Fisher might also get consideration after the Oklahoma City Thunder's campaign this season.
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