Byron Scott (basketball)
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Byron Anton Scott (born March 28, 1961 in Ogden, Utah) is a former NBA player and current NBA head coach. He attended Arizona State University. He was well-known as a player for the Los Angeles Lakers. Scott grew up in Inglewood and played at Morningside High School, in the shadow of what was then the Lakers' home arena, The Forum.
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[edit] Professional basketball career
[edit] NBA
Selected by the San Diego Clippers with 4th pick of the 1983 NBA Draft, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1984 in exchange for Norm Nixon. During his playing career, Scott suited up for the Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies and Vancouver Grizzlies. Scott was a key player for the Lakers during the Showtime era, being a starter alongside Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played for the Lakers for 10 consecutive seasons (1983-1993). During that time he won 3 NBA championships (1985, 1987, 1988). As a rookie he was a member of the 1984 all-rookie team, averaging 10.6 points/G in 22 minutes/G. He led the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (.433) in 1984-85. 1987-88 was his best season. He led the Lakers in scoring, averaging a career-best 21.7 ppg, and in steals (1.91 spg). He was the Lakers' starting shooting guard from 1984 until 1993. In 1996-97, the last year of Scott's playing career, he went back to the Lakers and proved to be a valuable mentor for a team led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. During his playing days he was known to be one of the best shooters and dunkers in the NBA.
[edit] Europe
In the summer of 1997 Scott came to Europe and signed with the Greek team Panathinaikos. During his first (and only) season in Greece, Scott played very well, leading PAO in the first place in the regular season. Despite his age (36 years old), Scott took it very seriously and professionally and surprised those who said he'd have no motivation after a great NBA career and three championship rings. He played 23 games in the regular season (missed 3 due to injury) and averaged 18.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.2 apg and 1.4 steals/g, shooting 80% in the free throws, 48% from the field and 40% behind the arc. Panathinaikos advanced to the play-off finals where they played against PAOK from Thessaloniki. Scott showed his class as he was named the finals' MVP and Panathinaikos won their first championship in 14 years, winning the series 3-2. In the 5th game (68-58) Scott had 23 points and played an amazing defense on Peja Stojakovic who scored only 14 points (3/13 fgs).
[edit] Coaching
Byron Scott is the head coach of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. He assumed the job prior to the 2004-05 season, after Tim Floyd was dismissed. Previously, Scott coached the New Jersey Nets, whom he led to two NBA Finals, in 2002 and 2003.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Don Casey |
New Jersey Nets Head Coach 2001–2003 |
Succeeded by Lawrence Frank |
| Preceded by Tim Floyd |
New Orleans Hornets Head Coach 2004–present |
Succeeded by Current |
Categories: 1961 births | Living people | People from Utah | American basketball coaches | American basketball players | African American basketball players | Los Angeles Lakers players | Indiana Pacers players | Vancouver Grizzlies players | New Jersey Nets coaches | New Orleans Hornets coaches | Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball players | National Basketball Association broadcasters | McDonald's High School All-Americans | African American NBA coaches
