As the New York Knicks head-coaching search continues to heat up, Marc Berman of the New York Post released a story detailing one name that could be in the running, Mike Woodson, and one name that likely is not – Byron Scott.
Scott had a fairly fruitful playing career in the '80s and '90s as a member of the “Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers, and he accrued three championships during his tenure in L.A., even winning back-to-back rings in 1986-87 and 1987-88 as the team’s starting shooting guard.
Despite that on-court success as a player, Scott’s head coaching career after his playing days were over is a bit spottier. Though Scott burst out of the gate as the New Jersey Nets head coach, piloting the team to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, he only has a career winning percentage of 41.2, with 454 wins to go alongside 647 losses.
According to Berman’s article, Scott’s disastrous tenure with the Lakers from 2014 to 2016 did not engender much support around the league:
“When he led the Nets to two Finals, there were rumblings assistant Eddie Jordan was the Xs and Os mastermind. When Scott was fired, conflicting reports existed on Jason Kidd greasing the skids. Scott last coached the Lakers during their down period from 2014 to 2016. His 38–126 (.232) record is the worst of any of the 16 Lakers coaches with two seasons. One source says Scott wasn’t the hardest worker nor a fan of film study.”
The Knicks are said to be leaning toward hiring Tom Thibodeau, though new president Leon Rose is going to take his time in making this big decision.
New York fans have to be pleased that Scott isn't under consideration for the job since he was terrible with the Lakers.
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