The coaching search is in full swing for the Los Angeles Lakers with numerous candidates being considered for the job as the new head coach of the storied franchise.
One of the most popular candidates moving forward is Byron Scott. Although Scott didn’t coach last year, the former Laker is ready to get back to work and appears to like his chances of landing the job.
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In an interview with Sam Amick of USA Today, Scott let it be known that he thinks he’s the frontrunner for the head coaching job due to his relationship with Kobe Bryant:
“I think the Kobe relationship is going to play a big part,” Scott, who currently works as an analyst for the Lakers’ television network, told USA TODAY Sports by phone Tuesday. “Again, I think I’ve got a hand up on (the job) because of our relationship. We get along extremely well. Kobe knows all about me and what I’m about. He knows that I’m an old-school coach who’s very demanding on the defensive end and knows that defense and rebounding wins championships, so I think from that point of view we see eye to eye.”
One of the most important things the Lakers are looking for in their new head coach is an ability to get the most out of Kobe in what could be the final two years of his NBA career. Scott maintains that he’s kept in contact with the superstar and have talked about basketball and their ideas being very similar via Amick:
“Our relationship is great. We talked over the summer. We text each other. His ideas on the game of basketball and my ideas on the game of basketball are a lot alike, so we share a lot of the same views when it comes to the way the game should be played. So to me, it’s going to be fun.”
With GM Mitch Kupchak saying the Lakers will take their time with the coaching search, the final decision on the new coach likely won’t be made for a few more weeks. Scott is definitely in contention for the job, but being the frontrunner didn’t exactly help Brian Shaw or Phil Jackson the last two times the team hired a new coach.
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Scott is one of a few candidates that have already interviewed for the job or are set to. Kurt Rambis, Lionel Hollins, Alvin Gentry and Mike Dunleavy Sr. are also in contention and have been contacted by the team.
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