Byron Scott
College: Arizona State
Playing career: Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana, Vancouver (1983-1997)
Coaching career: New Jersey, New Orleans, Cleveland
Résumé: As a player, Scott was a hard-nosed starter for the Showtime Lakers and he helped the team win three NBA championships. As a coach, Scott guided the Nets to back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals when he worked with former Sixers president Rod Thorn. Scott’s coaching style isn’t too different from his gritty playing style, which didn’t appear to be the answer to rebuilding in Cleveland.
Potential fit with Sixers
John Finger: Scott was the gritty, hard-nosed guy on the Showtime Lakers. When Magic and Michael Cooper flashed smiles, James Worthy displaced placid indifference and Kareem looked like … well, Kareem, Scott looked like he was ready to chew off someone’s face. He also took the New Jersey Nets to the NBA Finals twice.
NBA
John Gonzalez: I’ve always liked Byron Scott, but I wonder if he has another rebuilding project in him. After he got fired in Cleveland, he told the media he didn’t think he “got a fair shake.” He didn’t. But if he thought the Cavs put him in a bad spot, why would he agree to more of the same with the Sixers?
Dei Lynam: Scott has coached talented point guards in Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving. Jrue Holiday is currently the Sixers' centerpiece, so new GM Sam Hinkie might be inclined to explore Scott’s philosophy in getting the most out of the team’s floor leader. In the end, I think Scott stays out of coaching for the upcoming season, given that he had a year left on his Cavaliers contract.