Stephen Jackson: Byron Scott is ‘the worst communicator for young guys’

Stephen Jackson criticized his former coach Byron Scott for not communicating well with young players.

After Los Angeles Lakers head coach Byron Scott said that Lakers forward Julius Randle needs to “grow up,” Stephen Jackson criticized his former coach for not communicating well with young players in an interview with 120 Sports.

“D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, do not pay attention to Byron Scott,” Jackson said. “I made the Rookie All-Star Game ... and after the break he didn’t play me no more. He is the worst communicator for young guys. I would not advise a young player to even listen to Scott because he is the worst coach at communicating with young guys, and I’m living proof.”

Jackson played for Scott when he began his career with the New Jersey Nets in 2000. The forward played with eight different teams throughout his 14-year career. 

Scott’s comments about Randle came after the forward’s was taken out of Sunday’s 97–77 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

“Bottom line is, like I told him before, you’ve gotta grow up,” Scott told reporters on Monday. “The main thing I don’t like is when you take him out of games, how he reacts sometimes.”

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Randle, 21, was the seventh pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He is averaging 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds in 26.6 minutes per game in 34 games this season. He played only 16 minutes against the Suns and recorded just two points, three assists and 12 rebounds before exiting the game with 4:46 left in the fourth quarter. Russell, 19, is currently in his rookie season, averaging 27.6 minutes, 11.6 points and 3.4 assists per game.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak told ESPN’s Baxter Holmes that the team cannot move forward until after Kobe Bryant’s retirement, going on to say that minutes given to Bryant could be given to younger players if it wasn’t the star’s last season.

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Los Angeles sits in last place of the Western Conference with a record of 8–28. The Lakers play the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.