Byron Scott

2.1. NBA career

Scott was selected by the San Diego Clippers in the first round of the 1983 NBA draft, as the fourth overall pick. However, he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Norm Nixon. This trade marked the beginning of a highly successful tenure with the Lakers, where Scott would spend 10 consecutive seasons, from 1983 to 1993.

During his time with the Lakers, Scott became a pivotal player in the legendary "Showtime era". He was a regular starter alongside superstars such as Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and A.C. Green. As a shooting guard, Scott was instrumental in the Lakers' fast-break offense, often being the first player down the court, ready to receive a pass from Magic Johnson for a three-point shot or a dunk. He was also a capable defender, contributing on both ends of the court. With the Lakers, Scott won three NBA championships in 1985, 1987, and 1988.

In his rookie season (1983-84), Scott was named to the 1984 NBA All-Rookie Team, averaging 10.6 points per game in 22 minutes per game. In the 1984-85 season, he showcased his shooting prowess by leading the NBA in three-point field goal percentage, shooting .433. His best individual season came in 1987-88, where he led the NBA champion Lakers in scoring with a career-high average of 21.7 points per game and also led the team in steals with 1.91 steals per game. He remained the Lakers' starting shooting guard from 1984 until 1993.

After the 1992-93 season, Scott was released by the Lakers and signed a free-agent contract with the Indiana Pacers. While with the Pacers, he demonstrated his veteran leadership, notably hitting a game-winning three-point shot with 2.4 seconds left in Game 1 of their first-round playoff matchup against the Orlando Magic. The Pacers went on to sweep the Magic and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.

In 1995, Scott was left unprotected by the Pacers in the 1995 NBA expansion draft and was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies, where he played for one season. This was the first time in his career that he played for a team that did not make the playoffs.

Scott returned to the Lakers for the 1996-97 season, which marked his final year as an NBA player. During this period, he served as a valuable mentor to a young Lakers team that featured established stars like Shaquille O'Neal, Eddie Jones, and Nick Van Exel, as well as an 18-year-old rookie named Kobe Bryant. Scott's last NBA game was Game 4 of the 1997 NBA playoffs against the Utah Jazz, where he played for 15.5 minutes and recorded 4 points and 5 assists. The Lakers lost that game 95-110 and were eventually eliminated from the playoffs.

Over his NBA career, Scott played in 1073 games, averaging 14.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He shot .482 from the field, .370 from three-point range, and .833 from the free-throw line.

2.2. European career

After concluding his NBA career, Byron Scott continued his professional playing career in Europe. In the summer of 1997, he signed with Panathinaikos, a prominent team in the Greek Basket League, for the 1997-98 season.

During his single season with Panathinaikos, Scott competed in both the FIBA Saporta Cup (then known as the FIBA EuroCup), which was Europe's second-tier competition, and the Greek Basket League. In the 1997-98 FIBA Saporta Cup, he averaged 13.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals in 25.6 minutes per game across 17 appearances. In the Greek Basket League, he averaged 17.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in 33.7 minutes per game over 34 games.

Scott played a crucial role in leading Panathinaikos to the Greek Basket League championship, contributing significantly with his scoring in many critical games. In the finals, Panathinaikos faced PAOK Thessaloniki, which featured future NBA star Peja Stojaković. Scott's strong defensive performance helped limit Stojaković, and in the decisive Game 5, Scott scored 23 points while holding Stojaković to just three field goals. Panathinaikos ultimately won the championship, and Scott was named the Greek Basket League Finals MVP, concluding his playing career on a high note.

2.3. Career statistics

Byron Scott's professional playing career statistics in the NBA are detailed below, encompassing both regular season and playoff performances. An asterisk (*) denotes leading the league in that category, and a dagger (†) indicates winning an NBA championship.

3.1. Assistant coaching

Scott began his NBA coaching journey in 1998 as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, working under head coach Rick Adelman. His responsibilities included serving as an advance scout, analyzing offensive game plans, and focusing on perimeter play. He was also known for his contributions as a shooting coach, helping to improve the team's three-point shooting percentage.

3.2. New Jersey Nets

On June 27, 2000, Byron Scott was hired as the head coach of the New Jersey Nets, replacing Don Casey. The Nets had struggled, missing the playoffs in five of the previous six seasons and having gone through twelve head coaches in 23 seasons as an NBA franchise. In Scott's first season (2000-01), the team finished with a disappointing 26 wins and 56 losses, partly due to numerous injuries. During this period, player Stephen Jackson later described Scott as the "worst communicator for young guys."

However, the team's fortunes dramatically improved in the 2001-02 NBA season with the arrival of Jason Kidd via a trade that sent Stephon Marbury to the Phoenix Suns. With Kidd leading the team, the Nets achieved a franchise-record 52 wins, securing their first Atlantic Division crown and the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, they narrowly avoided an upset against the Indiana Pacers in a full five-game series, eventually winning in double overtime in Game 5. They then dispatched the Charlotte Hornets in five games in the semifinals, advancing to their first Conference Finals as an NBA team since the ABA era. They defeated the Boston Celtics in six games, despite blowing a 26-point lead in Game 3, to reach their first NBA Finals. There, they faced Scott's former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, led by Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The Nets ultimately lost the series 4-0, with the Lakers winning their third consecutive championship. Game 1 saw Kidd record the first triple-double in an NBA Finals since 1993, but the Lakers dominated early. Game 3 was close until Robert Horry hit a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to secure the Lakers' lead.

In the 2002-03 NBA season, the Nets regressed slightly to 49 wins, hampered by injuries to newly acquired Dikembe Mutombo. Despite this, they again reached the NBA Finals, sweeping the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons in the Conference Semifinals and Finals, respectively. In the Finals, they faced the 60-win San Antonio Spurs, featuring Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Manu Ginóbili, and Tony Parker. The series was tightly contested, with the teams splitting the first four games. The Nets won Game 2 with a narrow 87-85 victory and Game 4 by 77-76 after Kidd made four free throws in the final seconds. However, in Game 6, despite leading 72-63 with 8:55 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Nets suffered a dramatic collapse, scoring only five points in the final minutes while the Spurs went on a 25-point run, including 19 unanswered points. The Spurs won 88-77 to clinch the championship, with Tim Duncan nearly achieving a quadruple-double (21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists, 8 blocks). The Nets scored only 492 total points in the series, the second-lowest for a six-game series, and shot 34.5%. Jason Kidd later stated that the team "unraveled" and lost their composure.

By July 2003, tensions between Scott and Kidd became apparent, with reports suggesting Kidd had demanded Scott's firing as a condition for re-signing. Scott acknowledged his stubbornness with Kidd and the need to be more hands-on, especially after assistant coach Eddie Jordan left for the Washington Wizards. Scott was fired during the 2003-04 NBA season on January 26, 2004, despite the Nets holding a 22-20 record and leading their division at the time. Rumors of a rift between Scott and Kidd were widespread, though both parties publicly denied them. Scott expressed surprise at the reports, stating he and Kidd "always got along," while Kidd later commented that "Sometimes change or a different voice is good." Scott was succeeded by his assistant, Lawrence Frank. During his tenure with the Nets, Scott resided in Livingston, New Jersey.

3.3. New Orleans Hornets

Byron Scott became the head coach of the New Orleans Hornets in 2004. The team drafted Chris Paul in 2005, who went on to be named Rookie of the Year. Scott guided the team through challenging seasons in 2005-06 and 2006-07, which saw them finish below a .500 winning percentage. A significant obstacle during this period was Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans in 2005, forcing the team to play most of its home games in Oklahoma City. In the 2006-07 season, the Hornets made significant acquisitions, including Peja Stojaković, whom Scott had faced in the Greek League finals and coached as an assistant with the Kings. However, Stojaković and other players suffered injuries, preventing a playoff appearance.

The 2007-08 NBA season marked Scott's first winning season as the Hornets' head coach. The team achieved a remarkable 56-26 record, a .683 winning percentage, and clinched the Southwest Division championship, finishing as the 2nd seed overall in the Western Conference. Scott's success led to him being named the head coach of the 2008 Western Conference All-Star team, and a few months later, he was awarded the 2007-08 NBA Coach of the Year Award. In recognition of his achievements, the Hornets granted Scott a two-year contract extension.

In the 2008 playoffs, the Hornets had a strong home record of 30-11 and a road record of 26-15. They won their first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks with a 4-1 record. They then faced the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the conference semifinals. The series was marked by an unusual trend of home court blowouts, culminating in a decisive Game 7 where the veteran Spurs secured a 91-82 victory on the Hornets' home court. This win marked the 100th playoff victory for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

In the 2008-09 NBA season, the Hornets finished with a 49-33 record and entered the playoffs as the seventh seed. They were eliminated in the first round by the Denver Nuggets in five games, including a devastating 58-point loss in Game 4, which tied the record for the worst margin of defeat in NBA postseason history. Scott was relieved of his head coaching duties for the Hornets on November 12, 2009, following a disappointing 3-6 start to the 2009-10 NBA season. After his dismissal, he briefly served as a studio analyst for the NBA on ESPN.

3.4. Cleveland Cavaliers

On July 1, 2010, Byron Scott was named the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, just days before the team's star player, LeBron James, departed for the Miami Heat. Scott was tasked with rebuilding the team in the post-LeBron era. During his first season, the Cavaliers endured a 26-game losing streak, which was then the longest in NBA history. Scott was reunited with Baron Davis, whom he had coached with the Hornets, when Davis was acquired in a mid-season trade. Davis's arrival helped the Cavaliers secure several victories towards the end of the season, including a notable 102-90 upset win over LeBron James and the Miami Heat, which ensured Cleveland did not finish with the worst record in the league.

In the 2011 NBA draft, Cleveland used their first overall pick to select Kyrie Irving, who, under Scott's guidance, became the second point guard he coached to win the Rookie of the Year award. Scott's second season in Cleveland saw some improvement in a shortened 66-game schedule.

On April 18, 2013, Scott was fired by the Cleveland Cavaliers management after three consecutive losing seasons. Despite the Cavaliers ranking in the bottom five of the league in defensive efficiency during his tenure, analysts expressed surprise at his dismissal, citing the team's young and frequently injured rosters. Both Kyrie Irving and other Cavaliers players conveyed their disappointment regarding Scott's firing.

3.5. Los Angeles Lakers

Following his departure from the Cavaliers, Byron Scott spent the 2013-14 NBA season working as a television analyst for the Lakers on Time Warner Cable SportsNet. After the season concluded, he emerged as a leading candidate for the vacant Lakers head coaching position, which became available after Mike D'Antoni's resignation. Scott underwent three interviews for the role.

On July 28, 2014, Scott signed a multi-year contract to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, marking a return to the franchise where he achieved significant success as a player. His tenure as coach coincided with a rebuilding phase for the team. In his first season (2014-15), the Lakers finished with a 21-61 record. For the 2015 NBA draft, the Lakers selected D'Angelo Russell as the second overall pick. The 2015-16 Los Angeles Lakers season was particularly challenging, as the team finished with a franchise-worst 17-65 record, which was also Kobe Bryant's final season before his retirement. On April 24, 2016, the Lakers decided not to exercise their option on Scott's contract for the subsequent season, choosing to seek a new coach. His overall record with the Lakers was 38-126, a winning percentage of .232, which was the worst among any of the 16 coaches who had led the franchise for at least two seasons.

In August 2017, Scott announced his retirement from coaching to focus on his role as a basketball analyst for ESPN.

3.6. Head coaching record

Byron Scott's complete head coaching statistics in the NBA are presented below.