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11/22/2024 12:11:36 pm

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Byron Scott, Lakers Agree to Four-Year, $17 Million Coaching Contract


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Byron Scott, who as a player won three championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers during the Showtime era, has reportedly agreed coach the team next season.

Scott is to sign a four-year contract worth US$17 million, with the last year being a team option, people familiar with the deal said.

"I always wanted to coach the Lakers," Scott told a local CBS affiliate when reached for a reaction Saturday night. "This is a dream come true."

Scott has long been considered by the Lakers for the head-coaching job after the team parted their ways with Mike D'Antoni, who resigned in April after one of the worst seasons for LA.

He was seen as a front-runner for the job. Aside from his reputation as a three-time champion and his familiarity with the team after working as an analyst for the team last season at the Lakers television station, Scott is known to be close with Kobe Bryant, who was a rookie during the former's final season in 1996.

Bryant has been pretty open about wanting Scott to be the Lakers' next head coach. "We've had a tremendously close relationship throughout the years," said Bryant.

Scott has coached for four teams, calling the shots for Cleveland in 2010 just after LeBron James made his infamous "The Decision." The Cavs fired him after the shortened season in 2013.

Scott will now be heading players like Bryant, Steve Nash, Carlos Boozer, Jeremy Lin, Julius Randle, Ed Davis and a mix of serious defenders.

Scott is the seventh former Laker player to become head coach of the franchise. He is said to be holding a press conference Monday to formally announce his new position.

Other candidates in the Laker coaching search included Mike Dunleavy, Kurt Rambis, Alvin Gentry, Lionel Hollins and George Karl.

The Lakers took time in looking for a coach unlike the past two instances when they quickly hired staff to call the shots for the team.

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