Byron Scott: I thought I had another year to turn Lakers around
Get breaking news and SI’s biggest stories instantly. Download the new Sports Illustrated app (iOS or Android) and personalize your experience by following your favorite teams and SI writers.
Former Los Angeles Lakers coach Byron Scott told ESPN he was led to believe he had one more year to attempt to help rebuild the struggling team.
Scott was fired last week after two seasons as the Lakers’ head coach. The team finished 17–65 this season and went 38–126 under Scott’s watch, putting up two of the worst single season records in Lakers history.
• GOLLIVER: Lakers fire Byron Scott after season spirals out of control
“When you have conversations with guys, you take them for their word. And that’s what I did,” Scott said on ESPN’s The Jump. “Our conversation a couple of years ago was, ‘This is a rebuilding process. It’s going to take two to three years. It’s going to be very tough. Are you OK with that?’ And as I stated, I said, ‘Yeah I’m OK with it. Are you guys OK with it? If you can deal with it, I can deal with it.’”
The Lakers declined to pick up the third-year option on Scott’s contract, a decision the former coach said last week “blindsided” him.
• Kobe Bryant, Sports Illustrated to partner on Dear Basketball project
“And so when I said I was ‘blindsided’ by it, I figured I at least had another year to get this thing turned around, and I was preparing for that and looking forward to next year,” Scott said. “And then boom, that happened, and I said, ‘Wow.’ That kind of surprised me, shocked me a little bit.”
