Byron Scott’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers did not end on the best terms but the former head coach seems to still be keeping an eye on the organization.
On the BJ x Bucher Podcast, Scott admitted his bitterness towards how he was fired but also acknowledged that he still roots for the organization, mostly due to his friendship with many of its members. None of his bonds are closer than the one which he shares with Magic Johnson, his former teammate, and current Lakers’ president of basketball operations.
Scott and Johnson still maintain a relationship and according to the more forgotten member of the Showtime Era Lakers, he’s been praising his friend for his transactions since taking over for Jim Buss:
“I thought all the moves that they made this summer I thought were some great moves. Like I said, I get a chance to see him in the gym. We try not to talk about shop but sometimes we can’t help it when they just struck a deal and I…give him a big hug and say ‘Man that was nice. That was a great deal.’ Then we kind of elaborate on it a little bit.”
The Lakers have had an extremely busy offseason, from drafting four new rookies, to adding multiple veterans like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. But the move that sticks out from Scott’s comments is the trade that sent D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets. It’s no secret that Russell and Scott had an icy relationship at best with the head coach routinely throwing the point guard under the bus and the latter not always reacting to it in the best manner.
At this point, Scott’s opinions on the matter don’t really matter but it’s always interesting to hear perspective from the last person to coach this core before Luke Walton.
