Former LA Laker Byron Scott is going to be the new head coach of his old team, and even though a deal hasn't been finalized yet, Scott says it's merely a formality. With aging superstar Kobe Bryant campaigning for him from the beginning, it looks like "Kob", as Scott calls him, will get his first choice as a replacement for exiting coach Mike D'Antoni.
It seems that the star Laker Bryant has held a lot of sway over his nearly 20-year career with the team, but he finally got to hand-pick his coach- former teammate Byron Scott- a privilege he had yet to receive until now.
Scott and the Lakers are probably hoping that the respect Bryant has for him will translate to the rest of the team and work to improve morale (via Bleacher Report):
"Kobe and I have a great relationship, and we have been talking about this for almost the entire summer. I am excited to have the privilege of coaching a guy like that. This is a future Hall of Famer-we all know that-and I feel that he is going to be helping me as well, because we see the game in a very similar way."
Scott's familiarity with the team and the organization in general will be invaluable to the transition effort, and hopefully allow Scott to think long-term; a luxury that his predecessors have not always been afforded (via LA Times):
"The hiring of Scott could potentially buy the Lakers a year of time. They are not championship contenders and will be hard-pressed to make the playoffs, but the fans' familiarity with Scott could help ease the franchise through next season."
It will be interesting if Bryant exhibits a true change in character at this stage of his career, but if history is any indication, if Scott doesn't put wins on the board, expect Kobe to pout and whine until the front office finds him a new daddy.
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