Byron Scott will be the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers next season after reaching a deal with the team, multiple reports confirmed.
According to ESPN, Scott, who is coming off a tumultuous coaching stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, reportedly inked a four-year deal worth $17 million with the Lakers.
Scott, who will become the 7th former Laker to coach the team, also confirmed the deal in an interview with KCBS-TV, saying that getting the Lakers coaching job is a dream come true for him.
"It feels fantastic," Scott said. "This is a dream come true. I always wanted to coach the Lakers, especially when I got to coaching. It's so unreal. I have to thank [general manager] Mitch [Kupchak], Jeanie and Jim Buss to give me this opportunity."
Scott has been the favorite to land the job throughout the coaching search that lasted for almost three months after former coach Mike D'Antoni stepped down from his post.
Scott reportedly impressed the Lakers' top executives during three interviews for the job, including the last one where he was asked to present his plan after the Lakers made several roster moves such as acquiring Jeremy Lin, Carlos Boozer, and rookies Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.
The team's front office also took into consideration Scott's reputation as a disciplinarian - a quality they felt would fit the Lakers' current roster.
The 53-year-old coach, who holds a 416-521 coaching record, also got the backing of superstar guard Kobe Bryant, who played with Scott during his rookie season in 1996 - an endorsement that reportedly played a big role in the team's decision to hire the former New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and Cavaliers coach.
"He was my rookie mentor when I first came into the league," Bryant said of Scott. "So I had to do things like get his doughnuts and run errands for him and things like that. We've had a tremendously close relationship throughout the years. So, obviously, I know him extremely well. He knows me extremely well. I've always been a fan of his."
The Lakers also interviewed Mike Dunleavy, Kurt Rambis, Alvin Gentry, Lionel Hollins, and George Karl for the coaching vacancy before deciding to go with Scott.
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